Punjab resident arrested in Surrey extortion shooting
Surrey police are seeking more information about a man who was arrested and charged earlier this month in an extortion-related shooting. Police got a call on April 13 around 3 p.m. reporting gunfire near a home at 94A Avenue and 127th Street.
Officers found damage to a home, though no one inside at the time of the shooting was injured. SPS’s extortion investigators identified a suspicious vehicle and obtained a search warrant in the weeks following, leading to one arrest.
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Failed refugee claimant, MS-13 gang informant, identity thief and forger can stay in Canada
A failed refugee claimant convicted in the United States in 2006 and 2009 of identity theft and forgery has won a stay of the order issued by Canadian authorities last November to deport him to Honduras. The man, identified only by the initials FGH in a recent Federal Court decision, “acted as an informant against the MS-13 gang in exchange for deferral of his removal from the United States.”
India has urged the Canadian authorities to take “effective action” against anti-India elements operating from its territory, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during the MEA’s weekly media briefing on Thursday.
“This includes addressing the issue of glorification of violence, threats against diplomats and leaders, vandalism of places of worship and attempts to promote secessionism through so-called referendums,” he added.
Meanwhile, India also rejected charges made in the recently released Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) Public
elements
Report-2025, which accused New Delhi of foreign interference, while asserting that the same report had acknowledged the growing threat posed by Canada-based Khalistani extremist groups. Continued on Page 10...
Immigrant who pointed loaded gun in Calgary road rage incident won't face deportation
An Ethiopian immigrant who pulled out a loaded handgun, pointed it at another driver and threatened to shoot during a fight that was sparked by a “minor traffic infraction” in Calgary failed to convince a judge to tailor his sentence to avoid deportation.
Instead, an Alberta Court of Justice judge sentenced Thomas Kahsay Berhe to three years in prison for being in possession of a loaded Glock 19 9 mm pistol, pointing it at the other driver, threatening to shoot him, and for, eleven days later, when police finally caught up to him, being a passenger in a car that he knew contained a loaded .38 calibre revolver.
But Justice A.J. Brown pointed out there’s not much danger of Berhe being deported to
Ethiopia any time soon.
While any sentence longer than six months behind bars would make Berhe “subject to an automatic removal order,” said the judge.
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The refugee “served as an informant for approximately three months until members of MS-13 allegedly became aware of his cooperation with law enforcement. When he declined to continue acting as an informant, he was arrested and deported to Honduras,” in 2017, said the April 28 decision out of Vancouver.
A suspect charged in a 2024 murder in Surrey, B.C., has been extradited from the U.S. and taken into Canadian custody, homicide investigators announced Thursday.
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The U.S. Marshals Service handed Aman Aman, also known as Aman Ramesh, over to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team late last month, and the 22-year-old remains in custody
pending a court appearance on May 11. “IHIT investigators are committed to pursuing every viable lead and will go the distance in doing so,”
said Sgt. Fred Fong of IHIT, in a statement. “This case is an example our commitment to bringing all those responsible to justice on behalf of the victims, their families and the community.”
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98% of business owners worried about DRIPA uncertainty
The Business Council of B.C. says its members are worried about the province’s shifting position on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) and the uncertainty it is causing. Seven years later, a survey from the Business Council finds that 98 per cent now disagree that DRIPA is living up to that promise.
The same number are “very concerned” about how it’s being implemented.
“These numbers are stark, the message is clear, the desire to work with Indigenous communities to create prosperity for all remains strong, but DRIPA is not living up to its promise to create investment certainty and it’s not working for the business community,” Laura Jones with the Business Council of B.C., said. A court decision in December on mining rights that found DRIPA
should apply to all B.C. laws is only adding to that anxiety.
The business survey was done right after B.C. Premier David Eby once again delayed plans to try to suspend or amend the act this spring. Facing pressure from First Nations, Eby agreed to negotiate through the summer.
“The numbers that we’re actually seeing from Stats Canada, the investments on the ground, the jobs being created, is contrary to the internal poll they put out,” Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s jobs minister, said.
However, the numbers from the survey tell a different story. Seventy-four per cent say it’s led to decreased investment plans Seventy-three per cent say it has increased time, cost, complexity, or uncertainty in permitting
Forty-one per cent say it’s harder to access external financing
Thirty-five per cent say it is decreasing hiring plans “The only certainty in British Columbia right now is uncertainty, and that is a problem,” Jones said. BCBC surveyed its members from April 21-28, 2026, shortly after the announcement that the province would not proceed with introducing a bill to amend or suspend DRIPA in the spring 2026 session of the Legislative Assembly of BC.
The survey canvases the views of BCBC members who are senior decision-makers in the province.
The survey was distributed to 197 individuals, with 88 responses received,
representing a 30 per cent response rate. Of those respondents, 84 per cent identified as representing businesses, 10 per cent industry associations, and 6 per cent post-secondary institutions.
VICTORIA — Two former B.C. Conservatives now sitting as Independents say they voted with their consciences when they helped the governing NDP shut down debate on changes to freedom of information rules in a 3 a.m. vote.
Ex-colleagues of Amelia Boultbee and Elenore Sturko accused them of joining the “NDP farm team” on Thursday and having an “orange epiphany” by voting with 46 NDP legislators to advance the legislation, while the Conservatives, three other Independents and two B.C. Greens voted against.
Both Sturko and Boultbee said they judged on merit the amendments to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, that the Conservatives say will hurt transparency and accountability.
Among other changes, the amendments would give the B.C. Privacy Commissioner the power to allow public bodies to ignore requests that are deemed abusive or that would slow down operations. Critics say that the bill will make it more difficult to access government records, while the government says it modernizes and streamlines the legislation by giving public bodies more flexibility when it comes to responding to information requests.
Boultbee, who quit the Conservatives last October, said she’s “unconstrained” by ideology and has not received an offer to join the NDP.
“I do what I think is best for my constituents and British Columbians, whoever it so happens to be doing that work, whether it’s
the NDP, the (B.C.) Greens, even if it was the B.C. Conservatives,” she said. “I’m here to get that work done.” Sturko, meanwhile, said the bill would have still advanced to a legislative committee without her vote, and she did “due diligence” on the amendments.
“It’s not uncommon to have either the opposition or independents vote alongside government,” Sturko said. “In fact, the Conservatives, multiple times in just the last
three weeks, allowed legislation to pass even without any standing votes.”
Conservative MLA Harman Bhangu said on social media that the pair were “weak independents,” who “have officially been called up to the BC NDP farm team,” while colleague Korky Neufeld said in a video that they had had “an orange epiphany” and lost a chance to hold the government to account.
Sturko, a former RCMP officer who represents Surrey-South, said the Conservatives “have been quite hostile” toward her since she was kicked out of the caucus last September.
BC invests $1 million in 'lightning reduction' technology in bid to reduce fires
VANCOUVER — The British Columbia government is investing up to $1 million on fieldtesting new technology from a Vancouver company that aims to both predict and prevent lightning that may trigger wildfires.
Skyward Wildfire Technologies says it releases “lighting reduction material” into storms where high ignition risks are identified. It says the material, which it describes as a “silica or basalt fibre with an aluminum nano-coating” enables electrical charge to “redistribute quietly inside the cloud,” instead of building up and creating a cloud-to-ground lightning strike.
The B.C. Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth says in a release that the province is delivering funding through Innovate BC and that Skyward also uses technology based on artificial intelligence
to predict “areas of elevated lightning-caused wildfire risk.” Lightning has been a leading cause of wildfires in B.C., with about 70 per cent of blazes covering 97 per cent of all areas burned in 2024 triggered by the phenomenon. The province says the field tests will be used to determine if Skyward’s technology can meet B.C.’s wildfire prevention standards for potential application across Canada and beyond.
“The science isn’t new: lightning suppression research goes back to the 1960s,” the Skyward website says. “What’s new is the precision to deploy it only where and when a fire might otherwise start.”
Skyward says its lightning-reduction material is non-toxic and inert, and environmentally friendly compared to the release of thousands of litres of fire retardant or the smoke from a wildfire.
Elections Alberta issues cease-and-desist letters over voter info breach, privacy commissioner launches probe
Cease-and-desist letters have been sent to more than 500 Albertans who accessed a searchable database containing the personal information of millions of voters in the province, while a new investigation into the affair has been launched.
“I have decided to exercise my authority to investigate these allegations,” Diane McLeod, Alberta's information and privacy commissioner, said in a news release issued Thursday afternoon.
Elections Alberta and the RCMP have previously announced they are conducting their own investigations.
McLeod said her office's investigation will probe “allegations that the Centurion Project Ltd. has collected, used and disclosed personal information derived from the Alberta List of Electors."
A website created by the Centurion Project, a separatist group that is registered as a third-party advertiser in Alberta, featured a publicly accessible, searchable database that included the names, addresses and voter registration details of nearly three million people.
48 hours to comply," Elections Alberta's statement reads. Elections Alberta was granted a temporary injunction last week against the Centurion Project and the Republican Party of Alberta over the unauthorized use of an Alberta electoral list. The injunction forced the Centurion Project to shut down the database in question.
The agency has said that it has concluded the database was sourced from an official voter list legitimately obtained by the pro-independence Republican Party of Alberta.
Earlier Thursday, officials with Elections Alberta confirmed to CBC News that the cease-and desist letters had been issued the previous night by chief electoral officer Gordon McClure.
The letters were sent to 23 people identified as having received a voters list from the Centurion Project. The letters were also sent to another 545 people that were identified as having accessed the list. "The 23 people who were provided the list are required to provide a signed declaration [that] they have complied with the direction. They have
According to Elections Alberta, each electoral list is “salted” with a few fictitious names that makes such documents easier to trace in the event of a breach. Such lists are only distributed to political parties and elected officials and must not be shared with third parties.
How the list managed to change hands remains unclear. In a statement issued by the Centurion Project last week, the organization said it relied on a "third party" to provide it with datasets for its database tool which it said is used to “help train volunteers on how to be better citizens and to impact the political process.”
McLeod on what authorizes probe McLeod had previously signalled that she may not have the authority to launch a full investigation because Alberta's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) does not apply to political parties.
In her office's news release Thursday, McLeod stated that “Section 36(1)(a) of PIPA authorizes me to conduct an investigation on my own motion to ensure compliance with any provision of PIPA.”
Surrey School District superintendent made more than Prime Minister Carney and Premier Eby
Financial documents show that the superintendent for the Surrey School District makes more than half a million dollars a year.
Surrey is the largest school district in B.C., with more than 83,000 children enrolled. However, it has struggled recently with insufficient classrooms and support, leading to some programs being cut.
The Executive Compensation Disclosure Report for 2024 to 2025 shows that Supt. Mark Pearmain’s compensation was $527,000 last year, including salary and benefits.
“For context, that’s twice as much as Premier David Eby is paid to run an entire province,” Carson Binda with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation told Global News. “It’s far more than Prime Minister Mark Carney takes home at the end of the year.”
Deputy Supt. Andrew Holland made $422,000 and HR executive director Linda Radomski was paid $316,000. The campaign, dubbed “Surrey Students Deserve Better,” urged parents to directly contact their MLAs to press for increased funding and more support for students with special needs.
The campaign argued that the Surrey School District suffered from shortages of education assistants and basic supplies, outdated technology and cuts to popular arts programs.
Tammy Murphy, president of CUPE 728, which represents district support staff, pointed to reductions in the StrongStart program and learning centre closures as examples.
She also pointed out the number of executives in the district.
Just six years after B.C. spent $56.5 million transforming a Vancouver hotel into a lowbarrier homeless shelter, it has been revealed as an unsalvageable biohazard.
Luugat is the name given to a former Howard Johnson in Vancouver that in 2020 was repurposed into a 110-room full-service homeless shelter.
Pets and even on-site drug use was welcome. In fact, there was a vending machine onsite dispensing free needles, crack pipes and other drug paraphernalia.
“Luugat primarily caters to low-income individuals and operates with round-the-clock staff, ensuring that residents receive comprehensive support and care at all times,” reads the shelter’s still-active website. Residents were also promised free meals, free housekeeping and “timely maintenance.”
citing privacy concerns.
According to a tally compiled by Vancouver Sun, in its six years as a shelter, Luugat has been the subject of 906 emergency calls, including 334 alarms, 43 fires and 12 incidents identified as “rescue or hazard events.”
Now, with the Luugat being evacuated after years of constant fires and floods, the interior has been described as an unliveable nightmare of collapsed ceilings and hoarded garbage.
Last week, Global News obtained video showing one of the Luugat’s rooms stripped of furniture and piled with an estimated four feet of garbage, all of it soaked by an overflowing toilet. The video was shot by Allan Goodall, the owner of a nightclub on the building’s first floor who has regularly faced ceiling collapses from the rooms upstairs.
“There (are) multiple rooms you can’t even go in, the roofs are caving in,” former resident Stewart Holcombe told the broadcaster. But when a camera crew asked to take a closer look at the state of the building, B.C. Housing denied the request,
Holcombe estimated that the building was “destroyed” within a year-and-a-half after opening, and has remained in that state for a further 4.5 years.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t until November that the province announced the Luugat’s closure, along with two other nearby low-barrier shelters.
And Luugat is only one of an entire constellation of former hotels to have suffered the same fate.
It was one of nine hotels, located in both Victoria and Vancouver, that the Province of B.C. feverishly acquired in the opening months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As with Luugat, all were transformed into low-barrier shelters with no checks on who was coming in or out, and with drug use encouraged on site.
Vancouver homeowner loses bid to quash Empty Homes Tax she calls a ‘continuous nightmare’
The owners of second homes and a vacant lot in the City of Vancouver have lost their bid to get the city’s Empty Homes Tax struck down in B.C. Supreme Court.
Li (Lucy) Dan, Danice Macleod and Christopher Brittain advanced several arguments for why the bylaw should be declared invalid in their petition for judicial review, but Justice Palbinder Kaur Shergill rejected each one in a decision issued Friday and published online this week.
A landlord, a musician and a retired couple
Adopted in 2016, the city’s Vacancy Tax Bylaw— also known as the Empty Homes Tax—was intended to increase the supply of rental housing by taxing property owners who leave their homes vacant.
The bylaw requires property owners to submit an annual declaration of the status of their property, and imposes a tax of three per cent—up from one per cent at the time of adoption—of the property’s assessed value on those who neither live in nor rent out their properties.
There are a variety of exemptions to the bylaw, but none of them applied to the situations of Dan, Macleod and Brittain, the court heard.
According to Shergill’s decision, Dan “owns several residential properties in Vancouver and China, which she rents out to derive an income.”
She lives in Vancouver.
In August 2020, she purchased a property on Marine Drive for $3.5 million. The parcel
expense for her—and in 2023. She has since begun developing the lot and now qualifies for an exemption to the tax.
Macleod is described in the decision as “a musician in her late 70s” who owns homes in Vancouver and Banff and “has split her time between them for decades.”
“Her Banff property is under a long-term lease with the federal government,” it reads.
“To maintain the lease, she must make it her principal residence. Ms. Macleod states she is emotionally attached to both properties, describing them as ‘like family,’ and finds the idea of selling either of them deeply distressing. Practical considerations also make selling difficult: her Banff home is suited to aging in place and is where she writes her music; and her Vancouver home contains decades of sentimental belongings.”
Macleod spoke in opposition to the vacancy tax bylaw when it was under consideration at city council. The court decision indicates she doesn’t want to take on the stress of being a landlord after past bad experiences. She has been avoiding the tax by having acquaintances live in her Vancouver home as a principal residence.
“A former romantic partner has been living there since 2019, which makes it emotionally painful to visit her home,” the decision reads. “Ms. Macleod describes the tax as a ‘continuous nightmare,’ causing severe psychological stress and drastically limiting her ability to use her Vancouver home as she wishes.”
was vacant land, having previously been home to a house that had burned down and been demolished.
“Ms. Dan intended to build a new home for personal use or rental, but the surge in construction costs during the COVID-19 pandemic made development financially unfeasible,” the decision reads. “Consequently, she could neither live on the property nor rent it out, leaving her no way to avoid the Empty Homes Tax.”
Dan was required to pay the tax in 2022—when, the decision says, it amounted to a $113,000
Brittain and his wife are retirees in their 80s who live in Langley, according to the decision. They bought an apartment in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour neighbourhood in 2013, “intending to use it regularly as part of their lifestyle.”
“Between 2013 and early-2018, the Brittains spent three to four days per week at the apartment year-round, plus several weeks each summer,” the decision reads. “Their children also used it frequently. The apartment was fully furnished and ‘rarely empty for more than a day or two.’ Mr. Brittain viewed the apartment as a meaningful part of their lives, rather than an investment property.”
In 2018, Brittain discovered that the Empty Homes Tax would apply to his property and was “shocked and upset.”
After paying about $6,000 in the first year the tax applied, the family concluded it couldn’t afford the ongoing expense and “reluctantly” began renting the apartment out.
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Jaskaran Saroye, 27, has been arrested and charged with discharging a firearm. He remains in custody while waiting for his next court appearance on May 12.
“This arrest and charge reflect the determined work of our officers to hold those responsible for gun violence accountable,” said Chief Const. Norm Lipinski.
“Discharging a firearm into an occupied home is an extremely serious offence, and while we are thankful no one was physically harmed, incidents like this are profoundly dangerous and frightening for those affected.”
Surrey police are releasing Saroye’s image in hopes that those with information about his activities will come forward to speak with investigators.
Anyone with information is asked to contact SPS’s non-emergency number at 604-599-0502, the Surrey extortion tip line at 236-485-5149, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca.
In the first three months of the year, the city of Surrey recorded 75 extortion threats and 14 shots-fired incidents. Extortion threats have been a continuing concern in recent years, particularly in the South Asian business community where businesses and homes have been targeted in shooting incidents.
A number of task forces have been established at the municipal, provincial and federal levels to probe the shootings and threats, while the City of Surrey has put up $250,000 for resources to fight extortion crime in the city.
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Carney’s anti-Americanism is costing Canada—even if it feels good
With the United States and Canada presently dancing around trade negotiations that will have consequential outcomes for both countries, any public statements issued by the countries’ leaders should themselves be considered a negotiating tactic.
Hence, it was a bit surprising to see Mark Carney release an extended video address in which he declared Canada’s historical ties with the United States to be a source of national weakness in need of correction. As if to drive the point home, he pulled out an action figure—excuse me, “figurine”—of Sir Isaac Brock, the British army general charged with defending Upper Canada from the United States during the War of 1812 (one weird detail was his disclosure that it was a gift from the star of Wayne’s World and Shrek).
He was educated at Harvard University His four (4) children were also U.S.-educated and presently reside there
His wife is a senior advisor with the U.S.-based Eurasia Group
He holds substantial assets with U.S. companies like Brookfield Asset Management and Stripe
But none of this precludes the possibility of real antipathy; American hegemony can still engender feelings of resentment among nonAmericans, even when they count as beneficiaries.
In any case, this antagonistic posture toward the United States is no less a problem for being sincere. First, because its negative orientation limits its value to Canadians. It is ironic that for years we have heard the refrain calling for an authentic liberal nationalism. It was finally revealed that the spirit guide for this vision is—hold onto your hats—Carl Schmitt. Canadian liberalism will be held together by its hostility toward a foreign enemy.
This agonistic position toward Canada’s neighbour and most important trading partner has prompted accusations of either hypocrisy or expediency— hypocrisy because Carney (and frankly many Laurentian elites) retains strong personal ties with the United States; expediency because many suspect the PM is cynically relying upon this oppositional rhetoric to distract from growing economic problems at home, largely unrelated to American tariffs.
But this is not the first strong statement Canada’s leader has issued when it comes to the United States. He both diagnosed and endorsed a changing world order in his acclaimed speech at Davos and repeatedly referred to the necessity of “fighting” on Canada’s behalf. It is worth considering that he is quite sincere. One cannot help wondering at the alacrity and persistence with which the PM has pursued this approach: How much is a response to ongoing events and how much was already predetermined?
Let’s get this out of the way: charges of hypocrisy are inevitable. Herewith, a brief list of the PM’s associations with la perfide Amérique:
Former BC Housing vice president to run for Vancouver mayor under COPE party
The Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) party has announced Stephanie Allen as its Vancouver mayoral candidate, positioning the controversial former BC Housing executive as a figure in the October 2026 civic election.
Allen, a co-founder of the Hogan’s Alley Society and a former vice-president at provincial Crown corporation BC Housing, will lead COPE into the next municipal race on a platform focused on housing affordability and systemic reform.
“This is a moment that calls for political courage. I’m inspired by COPE’s unapologetic fight for our city. I’m joining this fight because people in Vancouver need leadership with the experience and heart to fight for the public good, not just predatory wealth and the super-rich,” said Allen in a statement on Sunday.
Sean Orr, the sitting city councillor under the COPE party, added, “The system is rigged against regular people. Stephanie gets that. She’s someone who will fight to make Vancouver affordable, accountable, and accessible for everyone. I’m excited to work with her.” In an open letter released alongside the announcement, Allen further outlined the positions her campaign will take — one that focuses on the welfare of rental housing tenants — and suggested that her prior leadership experience at BC Housing makes her a suitable mayor. She was previously with BC Housing for 11 years, including nearly five years as its vice president of strategic business operations and performance — up until December 2023.
“When I worked at BC Housing as vice president, I saw firsthand how governments are starving non-profits of the funding they need to produce and maintain affordable housing for people. When I was there, I worked to centre the voices of those most impacted – to bring tenants to the table, to treat people who are homeless with dignity and get them housed, and to serve the public benefit,” she wrote.
“These systems are good at creating photo ops and press releases, but they’re bad at meeting the needs of our communities. The people running these non-profits either need to numb themselves to the violence of our housing system, or, like me and many others, move on. I want to bring my experience in housing and governance to fight for the Vancouver we love.”
Allen also makes it clear that she does not believe in a market-based approach for realizing housing solutions — one that is driven by the capacity of the private sector to deliver — and would prefer a focus on building non-market rental housing by nonprofit entities. The Greens have chosen sitting city councillor Pete Fry as their first mayoral candidate in 30 years, while OneCity has nominated William Azaroff.
Other confirmed mayoral candidates include ABC incumbent Ken Sim, Vancouver Liberals’ Kareem Allam, Vote Vancouver sitting city councillor Rebecca Bligh, and TEAM For A Livable Vancouver’s Colleen Hardwick, who is a former city councillor.
Condo prices way down in South Delta
Greater Vancouver Realtors (GVR) says home sales in Metro Vancouver remained relatively flat compared to April 2025.
GVR’s latest monthly market report also notes that a divergence is emerging between market segments. According to the report, April 2026 residential sales in the region saw a 2.5 per cent decrease from the sales recorded in April 2025.
That was also 22.9 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average.
“Last month we noted that a divergence was emerging between sales trends in the detached and multi-family segments, which continued in April,” said Andrew Lis, GVR chief economist and vicepresident data analytics, in a news release.
“Sales of detached homes have been gaining yearover year, while sales in the multi-family segment have declined, and this pattern is consistent across most areas. The fact this pattern is so broad-based
reduces the likelihood what we’re seeing is just a blip in the data since the momentum isn’t isolated to small pockets of the market.”
The number of newly listed properties for sale on the MLS system last month was 2.4 per cent lower compared to April 2025, and was 15.5 per cent above the 10-year seasonal average.
The total number of properties currently listed is also slightly down from last year, but almost 38 per cent above the 10-year seasonal average.
According to GVR, the April 2026 benchmark price for a single-detached house in Ladner was $1,303,500, almost unchanged from the previous month but down 6.6 per cent compared to April 2025.
Last month’s benchmark price for a house in Tsawwassen was $1,530,000, down almost one per cent from the previous month and almost six per cent from the same time last year.
Victoria Harbour smashes 128-year-old daily high temperature record
A record-breaking sunny Sunday across B.C. includes a pair of daily temperature records in Greater Victoria.
While the Victoria International Airport area eked out a daily high May 3 – with a new record of 25.1 C, defeating the 25 C set in 1944 – Victoria Harbour defeated a record set in 1898.
The harbour, measured at Gonzales, hit 26.9 C above the old daily record of 25 C. Records in that area have been kept since 1874.
Environment Canada tracks daily records derived from historical stations and documented several heat records broken on Vancouver Island on May 3.
Nanaimo set a new record of 28.1 C above the 1946 record of 25.6; Qualicum airport area set
a new record of 26.5 over the 21.4 set in 1962; Comox hit 27.1 over the 25 set in 1946; Campbell River hit 28.9, trouncing the old record of 22.8 C set in 2013; Port Alberni hit 29.8 ahead of the 1907 record of 26.7; Tofino hit 25.7 ahead of the 1944 record of 21.1 C and Estevan Point reached 18.6 slightly warmer than the old daily record of 17.8 C set in 1944.
The weather in Victoria is expected to stay sunny and warm through the week, with some cloud rolling in on Friday. The expectation is for a high of 24 C Monday (May 4), with temperatures slowly dropping through the week.
The normals for this time of year in the region are a high of 16 C and a low of 7, according to Environment Canada.
Suspect in B.C. murder arrested in U.S., extradited to Canada
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Aman is accused in a double-stabbing that left a woman dead and another victim seriously injured in Surrey’s Guildford neighbourhood. The victims were found at a home on 108A Avenue in the early morning hours of Dec. 14, 2024.
Authorities previously announced charges of second-degree murder and attempted murder against 21-year-old Gurtaj Singh.
The same charges were approved against Aman last December, which led to a warrant for his arrest and his eventual extradition.
“The team at IHIT was unrelenting in
their efforts to advance the investigation and locate Mr. Aman,” Fong said.
IHIT said it would not be releasing further information while the case is before the courts.
SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2026
Metro Vancouver fined $170K after worker hurt during water main operation
Metro Vancouver has been fined about $170,000 after a worker was seriously injured during "highrisk violations" while working on a water main in New Westminster two years ago.
WorkSafeBC says in a news release that it issued the penalty to the regional district on March 12 after one of two workers helping lift gearboxes off a water main valve was injured when one gearbox "released and lifted forcefully upward."
It says the gearboxes were being lifted out of a confined space using a crane, and the workers were inside the space using pry bars, on March 15, 2024.
WorkSafeBC says it identified several high-risk violations, including a failure to plan and identify hazards before conducting the operation.
The board says Metro Vancouver did not make sure health and safety activities were coordinated and also failed to develop written procedures to reduce the risks working in confined spaces. The violations also included the lack of an adequately trained supervisor on-site, and the workers' lack of adequate training in such situations. Metro Vancouver says in a statement that it has "taken comprehensive corrective actions" around workplace safety since the incident, and complied with all WorkSafe orders in its aftermath.
"Metro Vancouver has one of the strongest workplace safety records among comparable organizations in B.C., and we remain focused on continuous improvement," the statement said.
Alberta man charged in Langley with murdering man, woman
An Alberta man has been charged in a Langley double homicide that unfolded last month.
The deaths were reported to Langley RCMP on April 27 just after 11 a.m., in a home in the 21000 block of 16 Avenue.
On Monday, police said the deaths were that of an 18-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man. Police confirmed the two victims lived together at the home but would not disclose details of their connection or their identities.
“This was a tragic incident and our hearts break for the victims’ families as they grieve the sudden loss of their loved ones,” said Sgt. Freda Fong of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. “Our thoughts are with them as well as the first
responders and support workers who responded to this call.” Fong also said a suspect had been arrested on Sunday and has been charged.
Cregg Lafferty-Tuccaro, a 33-year-old Alberta man, is charged with the second-degree murders of both victims.
“Through teamwork and persistence, IHIT investigators gathered the evidence needed to secure charges, which we hope will support the healing of those impacted,” Fong said in a statement.
The suspect had no priority interactions with B.C. police, but investigators believe he knew the victims. Lafferty-Tuccaro remains in custody and will next appear in court on May 11.
Tumbler Ridge Secondary School to be torn down and rebuilt after mass shooting, province says
B.C.'s premier says Tumbler Ridge Secondary School will be torn down and rebuilt at a new location after February's deadly mass shooting.
David Eby made the announcement Thursday afternoon on the steps of the legislature, saying the province is "committed to get this new school built as quickly as possible."
"The direction of the community is clear,” Eby said. “A new school on a new site.”
It’s been three months since the shooting claimed the lives of eight people, including five students and an education assistant who were fatally shot on the grounds of the school.
Eby, who promised students they would not be forced to return to the school, gave credit to the local school district for working with the community to determine the next steps.
“We want to make sure we're doing things right by the survivors, by the families, by the people of Tumbler Ridge,” Eby said. “They need to direct this."
use as classrooms, along with five more to be used by administration and as common space. Nicole Noksana, chair of the Tumbler Ridge Parent Advisory Council, welcomed the announcement. She has a child in Grade 6 and another in Grade 9.
“They were pretty adamant that they would not be returning,” Noksana said. “This is the announcement they hoped and they expected.” Noksana hopes the new school will include purpose-built areas for mental health and modern spaces for hands-on learning, including the school’s woodshop and mechanics class as well as
science fish farm.
About 160 students across Grades 7 to 12 attend the secondary school, and have since returned to class in portables set up on the grounds of the local elementary school.
The province says larger, more modular classrooms will be built in Tumbler Ridge in the coming weeks to use while plans for a permanent replacement are underway.
It says the new modular classrooms will be twice the size of the existing trailers being used, with each unit able to accommodate 25 to 30 students.
Eight of the units will be in place by fall 2026 to
Chad Anderson, chair of School District 59, says he’s glad to see the support of the provincial and federal governments to move forward.
“That building now, for many members of the community and families in the community, is really extending the trauma in their lives,” Anderson said.
“They've been through enough already. What we want to do is take that next step to move forward and provide some measure of healing.”
Eby says the province doesn’t yet know how much the new school will cost or how soon construction will begin.
Suspect at large after gunpoint robberies in Abbotsford
Major crime detectives in Abbotsford, B.C., are investigating a pair of recent armed robberies they believe are connected.
Both incidents involved a lone male suspect who reportedly produced a firearm before demanding jewelry from the victims. The first gunpoint robbery was reported at around 2:40 p.m. on April 14, near the intersection of Maclure Road and Trethewey Street.
The second incident occurred shortly after 8 p.m. on April 30, along the Discovery Trail near Abbotsford Exhibition Park, the Abbotsford Police Department said in a statement Thursday. The suspect in both robberies is described as a South Asian male, between 17 and 20 years old, standing approximately 5’ 9” tall with a slim build.
Police said the victims in both cases were shaken but not physically injured.
The Abbotsford Police Department’s major crime unit is now leading the investigation into both incidents, with additional police resources being deployed to assist in the probe.
Investigators have identified a suspect vehicle in the case, described as a grey 2018 to 2020 Toyota Camry, possibly an SE model, with an “N” sign displayed on the rear.
Anyone with information about the suspect or the vehicle is asked to contact police.
B.C. anti-gang unit says 11 arrested in illegal gambling investigation
Eleven people were arrested after British Columbia’s anti-gang police raided a suspected illegal casino in Metro Vancouver, seizing vehicles, tens of thousands of dollars in cash and a shotgun fitted with a suppressor, authorities said Thursday.
The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C. says it executed multiple search warrants on April 29 in the communities of Maple Ridge, Surrey and Coquitlam.
Ridge. All of those who were arrested were later released
pending completion of the charge assessment process, police said.
During the property searches, investigators seized more than $34,000 in cash and three vehicles, described as a 2012 Dodge Caravan, a 2017 Range Rover and a 2024 Honda CRV.
Police also took custody of gambling-related equipment, including poker tables, casino-style chips, cards and ledgers. A statement Thursday from the CFSEU-BC says the agency worked with the provincial Independent Gambling Control Office to obtain casino bans for six of the individuals arrested.
Those bans took effect on April 30, the CFSEUBC said.
“Illegal gaming houses are not harmless operations—they are often tied to organized crime and bring significant risks to public safety,” said Sgt. Sarbjit K. Sangha in a statement.
“These locations can become hubs for violence, exploitation, and other criminal activity, putting both patrons and surrounding communities in danger.”
Tumbler Ridge Secondary School will be demolished and rebuilt after mass shooting, province says
B.C.'s premier says Tumbler Ridge Secondary School will be demolished and rebuilt after February's deadly mass shooting.
David Eby made the announcement on the steps of the legislature Thursday afternoon, saying the province is "committed to get this new school built as quickly as possible."
"The direction of the community is clear, they wanted to go with a new school on a new site," he said.
"The work that was done by the school board was incredibly important, because we want to make sure we're doing things right, by the survivors, by the families, by the people of Tumbler Ridge. They need to direct this." On Feb. 10, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar shot and killed her mother and half-brother at home before fatally shooting five children and an educator at the school, as well as injuring numerous others. The police investigation into the shooting is in its final stages.
About 160 students across Grades 7 to 12 attend the secondary school, and Eby pledged in the wake of the tragedy that none of the students would be forced to return. Students have since returned to school in temporary modular classrooms set up on the grounds of the local elementary school.
The province says larger, more modular classrooms will be built in Tumbler Ridge in the coming weeks to use while plans for a permanent replacement are underway.
It says the new modular classrooms will be twice
One person is dead and five more are in hospital with serious injuries after a two-vehicle car crash in North Delta Saturday afternoon, according to first responders.
The Delta Police Department said the crash occurred at the intersection of 118th Street and 75A Avenue just after 3 p.m. “Several occupants were taken to hospital with serious injuries and sadly, the driver of one of the vehicles was pronounced deceased at the scene,” police wrote in a statement.
Video from the scene shows one vehicle crushed against a tree and another in the yard of a home, having knocked down
the size of the existing trailers being used, with each unit able to accommodate 25 to 30 students.
Eight of the units will be in place by fall 2026 to use as classrooms, along with five more to be used by administration and as common space.
Eby said the local school board will work with the community and experts to develop an initial design for the new school.
He hopes the plan will be brought back to the community before the end of the year.
"It’s absolutely vital that we have victims' voices, that we have community voices, in everything we do moving forward," said B.C. Education Minister Lisa Beare. Eby said the province doesn't yet have cost estimates for the new school.
He said the province will be working with the federal government to cover the costs, including design and construction as well as demolition and rehabilitation of the old school site.
Eby called it a "special project" for the province.
a fence. A street sign and fire hydrant appear to have been ripped out in the crash.
B.C. Emergency Health Services told CTV News it sent 10 ambulances to the scene, eight with primary care paramedics and two with advanced care paramedics.
Two people were taken to hospital in “serious” condition and three were transported in “serious, but stable” condition, according to BCEHS. Road closures were in place in the area as collision analysts collected evidence. The DPD asked anyone with information or video to call 604-946-4411.
The raids were the culmination of an investigation that began last November into a suspected illegal gaming house in Maple
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Canada urged to take action against anti-India elements
Responding to questions on the CSIS report, Jaiswal termed the allegations against India “baseless imputations”. “India’s position on this particular issue has been clear and consistent. India is a democracy that adheres to international norms and respects the sovereignty of other nations. It is not India's policy to interfere in issues of other countries. We categorically reject such baseless imputations,” Jaiswal stated.
He further said concerns of such nature should be dealt with through institutional mechanisms rather than “politicised or public narratives”. The MEA also used the occasion to underline what it described as Ottawa’s continuing failure to act against extremist and separatist groups operating from Canadian
soil.
Referring to another section of the CSIS report, Jaiswal said, the Canadian agency itself has acknowledged that supporters of the Khalistan separatist movement and extremist networks continue to misuse the Canadian territory; and pose a national security threat not only to India, but also to Canada. “We have consistently spoken out about concerns regarding the use of Canadian territory as a safe haven by extremists and separatists,” he said.
According to the MEA spokesperson, the report highlights how extremist elements exploit democratic freedoms and institutions in Canada to promote radicalism and channel funds towards violent activities.
In its latest public report, the CSIS had
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.
named India, alongside China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan, as countries allegedly involved in foreign interference and espionage-related activities in Canada. At the same time, the report also revisited concerns over politically motivated violent extremism linked to Khalistani networks.
Interestingly, the report came months after Mike Duheme, Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, had stated that ongoing investigations had found no current evidence linking Indian government agents to clandestine or violent activities in Canada.
New Delhi has consistently dismissed allegations levelled by the Canadian authorities as politically motivated and unsupported by credible evidence,
while maintaining that Canada’s tolerance of extremist and separatist elements targeting India remains the larger issue.
Continued from Page 1... “Immigration Canada does stay removal orders to enumerated countries that are in a state of war or otherwise subject to violence, danger, terrorism, etc.; currently, Ethiopia is one such country.”
The Crown argued for three years behind bars, said the April 22 decision.
Berhe’s lawyer asked for a conditional sentence order of two years, less a day, followed by two years of probation.
The court heard that Berhe, now 27, got in an argument with another driver around 5:15 p.m. on June 9, 2023.
“The argument was over a minor traffic infraction and took place in the Mission district in Calgary, roughly 10 blocks south of the downtown business core of the city,” said the decision.
The other driver “soon disengaged from the argument and drove two blocks further south to pull into the parking area for a pub,” said the decision.
As he was parking his truck, “Berhe approached the passenger side, hands in the pockets of his
jacket, concealing a fully loaded Glock pistol, and opened the door of the truck to confront” him, said the decision.
The other driver asked Berhe if he wanted to fight, “to which Mr. Berhe replied that, no, he was going to shoot him.”
A physical fight ensued, “during which the Glock fell out of Mr. Berhe’s pocket to the ground. As the fight continued, Mr. Berhe retrieved the gun and tried to point it, finger on the trigger, at” the other driver.
As he pointed the Glock, Berhe struck the other driver on the right side of the head with it, said the decision. “This action caused the gun once more to be knocked to the ground, out of Mr. Berhe’s hand,” said the decision.
“The physical fight continued until the two men were separated by bystanders.”
Berhe took off with a woman in a white Hyundai before police showed up. After investigators reviewed surveillance video of the altercation, they put out a Need-to-Identify bulletin that included a description of Berhe.
Failed refugee claimant, MS-13 gang informant, identity thief and forger can stay in
Continued from Page 1...
FGH “entered Canada irregularly between ports of entry in November 2020,” said the decision. “He submitted a claim for refugee protection in April 2021. His claim was referred to the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board, but was suspended following a finding of serious criminality.”
FGH testified that he could experience “irreparable harm” if forced to return to Honduras.
“Following his deportation (from the U.S.) to Honduras in January 2017, he received threats by telephone from callers in the United States and Honduras who told him that they knew who he was, and that he had been ‘spying on them by helping the authorities,'” said the decision. “In March 2017, the applicant was pursued by armed men in a car, resulting in a serious accident. He lived in hiding for approximately four months before he fled to the United States.”
When FGH tried entering the U.S. in May 2017, authorities caught him and deported him to Honduras.
“He lived in different places until he fled to Israel, and then to Spain. There was no pathway to legal work or stability, and the applicant returned to Honduras in late 2019. He travelled through the United States to Canada in the summer of 2020.”
According to the Federal Court decision, “Honduran gangs threaten and use violence, including murder, against persons they consider
Canada
to be a threat or who do not comply with their demands. Those targeted include: ‘People who (are perceived to have) collaborated with security forces, such as: informants, witnesses, and current and former gang members who (are perceived to have) leaked information.'”
The gangs can track people through their criminal networks, said the decision.
“People who are reportedly more likely to be tracked are: those who the group believes have betrayed them; those with important information about the gang; and former gang members. Family members of these groups may also be tracked,” said the decision. “A person who has a well-founded fear of persecution or serious harm from an organized criminal group is unlikely to obtain protection from the state.”
FGH’s sister submitted evidence describing “the killing of her former husband by gang members more than five years after he was first threatened, suggesting that the passage of time and efforts to avoid detection may not attenuate the risk,” said the decision
FCOSS calls for ‘clean record’ requirement in Constitution
The Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) is calling for stricter constitutional standards for senior public service appointments, including a mandatory “clean record” requirement for Permanent Secretaries and Fiji’s diplomatic representatives. Speaking before the Constitution Review Commission on Friday, April 24, FCOSS Programme Manager Josaia Tokoni said those entrusted with leading public institutions and representing Fiji overseas should be held to the highest standards of integrity. “The people who run our public service and represent Fiji on the world stage must be held to the highest standards of integrity and FCOSS believes the Constitution is the right place to enshrine that expectation,” Mr Tokoni said. In its submission on Public Service provisions under Sections 123 to 127 of the Constitution, FCOSS proposed a constitutionally mandated “clean record” standard for the appointment of Permanent Secretaries and Ambassadors or High Commissioners.
Under the proposal, appointees would be required to have no criminal convictions, no history of complaints relating to the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), and no involvement in coups. FCOSS also argued that integrity at the point of appointment alone was not enough and recommended a stronger performance management framework for senior officials.
The organisation said appointments should be tied to accountability measures to ensure leaders were assessed on their performance and results throughout their tenure. Mr Tokoni further stressed the importance of citizen participation in monitoring public service delivery.
Lawyer tells court: “This is not a newsroom” as Khan faces restraining order breach charge
Imran Khan’s lawyer, Jerry Dinati yesterday told the Nadi Magistrates Court that the court was not a “newsroom”.
Mr Khan, also known as King Khan is charged with one count of Contravention of Restraining Orders – Contrary to Section 42(1)(a) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 1997. According to the charges read out in court, the accused, in the Central Division, knowingly contravened a
restraining order issued by the Civil High Court in HBM of 2023 on December 23, by disposing of vehicles registration KNGKHN through the facilation of the transfer of said vehicle to Ifran Khan, that was subject to the restraining order issued in HBM 213 of 2023.
Mr Khan is alleged to have breached a High Court Order by disposing of a vehicle, that was subject of the initial restraining order which included a $400,000 property, cash currently held at a local bank and four vehicles
His lawyer, Mr Dinati, argued in court that his client was innocent until proven guilty.
He said before his client, Mr Khan, was charged the media continuously spoiled his dignity and character. “And that is what the media do to sell the newspapers,” Mr Dinati said.
“But your worship, this is not a newsroom. This is a place for justice.”
Clean up the ranks, Rabuka tells disciplined forces
PRIME Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has issued a stern warning to members of the disciplined forces, saying those entrusted to uphold the law must not become perpetrators of crime.
Speaking on growing concerns about alleged misconduct within enforcement agencies, he acknowledged on Fijian Broadcasting Corporation News the possibility that some officers could be involved in illegal activities, stressing the need for vigilance at the highest levels of
command. He said the responsibility to address such issues rested heavily on the leadership of the police and military.
He urged both the heads of the military and the police to maintain strict oversight of officers under their authority and to protect the reputation of their institutions. Mr Rabuka warned that the actions of a few individuals could damage public trust. He added that public confidence in the forces was at risk if decisive action was not taken.
Court orders Pacific Polytech to vacate Samabula property
The High Court in Suva has ordered Pacific Polytechnic Limited to vacate a property in Samabula, ruling in favour of the Trustees of Sanatan Dharm Pratindhi Sabha of Fiji in a longrunning tenancy dispute.
In a decision delivered on April 24, 2026, the Court granted immediate vacant possession of the property, which includes classrooms, offices, a garage and school grounds on Crown Lease land in Samabula East. The trustees, as registered proprietors of the land, had applied for the eviction under Section 169 of the Land Transfer Act, arguing that the tenancy agreement had been lawfully terminated. The Court found that the plaintiffs had provided more than sufficient notice — 448 days compared to the required 90 days —
effectively ending the tenancy. “I find that… the Defendant no longer has a legal right to be on the property,” said Justice Usaia Ratuvili. Pacific Polytechnic had opposed the application, arguing that the termination was disputed and that the matter involved complex legal and factual issues requiring a full trial. The institution also cited its role as an educational provider, stating that eviction would disrupt students and operations.
However, the Court ruled that such issues could be addressed separately through civil proceedings and did not justify continued occupation of the land. The Court also rejected procedural objections, including claims of short service, stating that any prejudice was outweighed by the need to determine the matter.
Forces ‘pressure’ criminal networks
POLICE will continue to apply pressure on criminal networks despite last week’s attack that left two officers severely injured after a violent incident at Laqere, Nasinu, last week.
Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu said this as joint drug operation with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces continued, including a broad daylight raid yesterday at Suva’s Jittu Estate. The hour-long sting saw the closure of one lane along Grantham Rd to Gaji Rd.
Police had not released any details when this edition went to press. Mr Tudravu said his officers remain on the frontline of an increasingly dangerous operating environment. “Police officers face significant threats to their safety and security every day,” he said.
“Every day we go out into our communities to serve, with the understanding and commitment of putting service before self. “The unfortunate accident is a reminder of how dangerous policing is and while officers are trained to deal with varying situations, the unpredictable nature of the criminal landscape is such that, when one tries to avoid the
Parliament has approved a 20 per cent reduction in the salaries of the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Assistant Ministers, the Leader of the Opposition and all Members of Parliament.
The move is part of efforts to reduce government expenditure and demonstrate fiscal discipline during a period of economic pressure.
Under the revised structure, the Prime Minister’s salary of $320,000 will be reduced, along with Cabinet Ministers currently earning $200,000 and Assistant Ministers on $120,000. The Leader of the Opposition, also on $200,000, and MPs earning $95,000 will see similar cuts.
long arm of the law, they will resort to any extreme to evade arrest.”
He said incident was not a targeted attack on an officer because of her family ties, “but an unfortunate accident, where officers on the ground had a few seconds to react to”.
He said the force’s detailed daily briefings and debriefings continued to guide tactical decisionmaking and risk management in the field.
“We are reviewing our current operational posture, prioritising the safety of members of both forces, and we will not back down.
Government members argued the decision reflects a commitment to shared sacrifice and responsible leadership. “This is about leading by example and ensuring that those in public office share in the burden faced by ordinary Fijians,” one MP said during debate.
However, some opposition members raised concerns about the overall savings, questioning whether the reduction would deliver significant fiscal impact. Despite differing views, the motion was passed, with Parliament agreeing that the cuts send a strong signal of accountability and prudent financial management.
SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2026
Case filed against ex-minister, Chinese company over corruption in China-funded airport
Nepal’s top graft body on Thursday filed a case against 14 individuals, including former finance minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki and a Chinese company, over alleged tax waivers granted during the construction of the China-funded Pokhara International Airport. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed the case at the Special Court. Several other cases have been filed in the past for the misappropriation of billions of rupees in the project.
The CIAA has claimed a total alleged damage of Rs 3.62 billion in the corruption case, according to officials at the CIAA.
Officials of the Chinese company China CAMC Engineering Co Ltd—which constructed the airport—and its representatives have also been named as defendants in the charge sheet.
According to Ganesh Bahadur Adhikari, assistant spokesperson for the CIAA, the charges relate to alleged tax exemptions granted to the Chinese contractor in violation of the original agreement during the airport construction.
Governor dissolves West Bengal Assembly after completion of term SOUTH
Governor R N Ravi has dissolved the West Bengal State Legislative Assembly with effect from May 7 after completion of its term, according to an official notification.
The current Assembly was constituted in May 2021 after the Trinamool Congress, under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, returned to power for the third consecutive term in the state.
The dissolution marks the formal completion of the tenure of the outgoing Assembly, following the recently concluded two-phase elections.
The notification was issued by the Department of Parliamentary Affairs.
Those charged also include former secretaries Kewal Bhandari, Maheshwar Neupane and Suresh Acharya, serving secretary Danduraj Ghimire, and then director generals of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Pradeep Adhikari and Sanjeev Gautam. The airport in central Nepal is considered a gateway to the famous Annapurna Circuit, popular amongst trekkers.
India asks Bangladesh to expedite verification of illegal migrants for repatriation
India on Thursday urged Bangladesh to expedite the verification of suspected illegal Bangladeshi nationals staying in India, saying delays from Dhaka were hindering their repatriation through established bilateral mechanisms.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed that more than 2,860 cases seeking nationality verification from Bangladesh were pending, many of them for over five years.
Addressing the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said recent comments emanating from Bangladesh should be viewed in this context of the unresolved issue of illegal immigration and repatriation.
“We have seen comments of this nature being made in the last several days. These comments must be seen in the context of the core issue of repatriation of illegal Bangladeshis from India. This obviously requires cooperation from Bangladesh. Over 2860 cases of nationality verification are pending with Bangladesh, several of them for over five years,” he said
The remarks came in response to questions regarding statements made by Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman amid the controversy surrounding BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma’s remarks who had suggested that instead of formal processes involving the Ministry of External Affairs, individuals were often “pushed back” across the border under the cover of darkness at locations where Bangladeshi border forces are not present. Reiterating India’s position, Jaiswal said any foreign national found to be staying illegally in the country must be repatriated in accordance with law and existing bilateral arrangements.
“Our policy, as you very well understand, is that any foreign national who is illegal in the country, he or she must be repatriated as per laws, procedures and established bilateral mechanisms
and arrangements. We expect that Bangladesh will expedite nationality verification so that repatriation of illegal immigrants can take place in a smooth manner,” he said.
When asked about remarks by Himanta Biswa Sarma suggesting that alleged illegal migrants were sometimes “pushed back” across the border instead of being formally deported through diplomatic channels, the MEA spokesperson avoided directly commenting on Sarma’s statements.
Instead, Jaiswal stressed that the focus should remain on the “core issue” of pending nationality confirmations from the Bangladeshi side. “It is important that we understand the background of these comments. There is a core issue which needs to be looked into,” he said.
“We have shared data of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants with the Bangladeshi side for confirmation of their nationality so that people can be repatriated in a smooth manner. We expect Bangladesh will take due action in this regard so that we can proceed with repatriation of illegal foreign nationals who are here, as per established mechanisms,” the MEA spokesperson added.
The latest controversy comes at a delicate phase in ties between New Delhi and Dhaka, with both countries attempting to stabilise relations amid political changes in Bangladesh and continuing concerns over border management and illegal migration.
Rs 21 lakh tossed from flat in Kharar as ED raids Punjab realtors
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted search and seizure operations against two Punjab-based real estate groups in connection with alleged fraudulent change of land use (CLU) approvals, and cheating of landowners and homebuyers, with dramatic scenes unfolding in Kharar where bundles of cash were seen being thrown from a flat during the raid.
After the searches, which lasted several hours, the ED claimed one of the realtors whose premises were searched, Gaurav Dhir of Dhir Constructions, was a “close associate” of a senior AAP leader, Aman Arora.
board. I am not going to be bowed down by such false propaganda,” he said.
It is alleged that in an attempt to facilitate money laundering, Dhir, through his entity Suncity Projects, acquired Altus project for approximately Rs 130 crore after allegedly undervaluing it by Rs 170 crore. The matter is being investigated.
Arora is the Punjab unit president of AAP and a senior minister in the Mann government. Arora denied any links to the real estate companies. “I have come to know from media reports that my name has figured in ED raids. My entire life was, is and will always be above
Centre extends Assam tenancy law to Chandigarh, replaces 75-year-old rent law: What it means for locals
In a move with consequences for landlord-tenant ties in Chandigarh, the Centre has extended Assam Tenancy Act, 2021 to the Union Territory replacing the decades-old East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949, which had governed landlord-tenant relations in the city for over 75 years.
Interestingly, the ED first conducted a raid on businessman Nitin Gohal at his Kharar residence early on Thursday morning.
In a dramatic development, ED officials alleged that cash amounting to Rs 21 lakh was thrown from the balcony of his flat during the commencement of search proceedings. Residents of the housing society reportedly said the cash, packed in two bags, was thrown from the ninth-floor flat and they were shocked to see bundles of currency notes flying overhead in the morning.
Land scam, money laundering case: ED names Punjab AAP chief Aman Arora in Chandigarh, Mohali raids
On a day when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at over a dozen locations in Chandigarh and Mohali in connection with an alleged land scam and money laundering case, the central agency on Thursday named Punjab Aam Aadmi Party President Aman Arora in its statement issued after the searches.
The ED alleged that one of the builders raided during the operation, Gaurav Dhir of M/s Dhir Constructions, was a “close associate” of the senior AAP leader.
According to the ED, the searches were carried out under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with alleged irregularities involving real estate transactions and project transfers.
of Rs 130 crores, by undervaluing the project by more than Rs 170 crores,” the ED statement said.
The agency further alleged that “Gaurav Dhir is a close associate of one of the high-ranking AAP leader (Aman Arora).”
The ED also named two alleged middlemen — Nitin Gohal and Pritpal Singh Dhindsa — claiming they had helped in securing “political patronage and protection”.
In its statement, the agency claimed that Gaurav Dhir, through his entity M/s Suncity Projects, purchased a project from Altus Space Builders Pvt Ltd for “a paltry sum of Rs 130 crore” by allegedly undervaluing the project by over Rs 170 crore.
“In order to facilitate money laundering, Gaurav Dhir of M/s Dhir Constructions through its entity M/s Suncity Projects has purchased the project from Altus Space Builders Pvt Ltd for a paltry sum
“During the search, two middlemen, Nitin Gohal and Pritpal Singh Dhindsa, have also been covered, who have helped in political patronage and protection. Several incriminating documents have been recovered, suggesting interference of these private individuals in Government functioning in the state of Punjab,” the statement added. The searches triggered high drama at a Mohali high-rise during the day after bundles of Rs 500 currency notes were allegedly thrown from an upper floor during the raids. Videos of the incident circulated widely on social media.
There was no immediate response from Aman Arora or the Aam Aadmi Party over the ED’s allegations till the filing of this report
Blast remarks: BJP leaders march to Punjab Police HQ, seek sedition case against CM Mann
A BJP delegation on Thursday marched to the Punjab Police Headquarters here, demanding registration of a sedition case against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over his remarks on the recent bomb blasts in Jalandhar and Amritsar.
Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar alleged that Mann’s statement amounted to giving a clean chit to Pakistan’s ISI and had damaged India’s image internationally.
The delegation demanded an investigation into what it termed a conspiracy behind the Chief Minister’s statement and also offered themselves for arrest. Jakhar said that if evidence exists against the BJP, action should be taken, but if not, “the Chief Minister and other AAP leaders should be included in the investigation for making baseless and incendiary statements.”
He said the CM’s remarks were not only dangerous for communal harmony but also seditious. “While Punjab’s DGP claims Pakistan’s ISI is behind the blasts, the Chief Minister is
effectively giving Pakistan a clean chit,” he said. He warned that Pakistan could now use the CM’s video statement in its defence at international forums whenever India raises the issue of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. “This has damaged India’s image internationally and the Chief Minister must be held accountable,” Jakhar said. He alleged the CM was acting as a pawn in a larger conspiracy orchestrated by AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal to provoke communal tensions and damage state’s social fabric for political gain.
The notification has been issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs under Section 87 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, which empowers the Centre to extend laws from any state to the Union Territory of Chandigarh which does not have its own legislature.
The extended law will be officially called the “Assam Tenancy Act, 2021 as extended to the Union Territory of Chandigarh” and will come into force from the date of its publication in the Gazette.
Why the change?
Chandigarh, as a Union Territory and the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana, had long
been governed by the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949 — a pre-independence-era legislation widely criticised for being outdated, tenant-protective to a fault, and lacking a modern framework for digital records, speedy dispute resolution, and balanced landlord-tenant rights. The Assam Tenancy Act, 2021, enacted by the Assam Legislative Assembly and assented to by the Governor on September 23, 2021, was seen as a far more contemporary and balanced law. The Central Government has adapted it for Chandigarh's administrative context through a series of targeted modifications, replacing references to “State Government” and “State of Assam” with “Administrator” — the Administrator of Chandigarh, appointed by the President under Article 239 of the Constitution — and “Union Territory of Chandigarh” respectively throughout the Act.
Cong seeks detailed probe, says ED raids have exposed AAP
Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Thursday demanded a thorough probe into the money laundering allegations being probed by the Enforcement Directorate, which raided multiple locations in Punjab. “Reports of the ED raids and the accompanying visuals of cash being flung from the premises of a person very close to the power corridors has exposed those claiming themselves to be staunchly honest,” he said. Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh
Bajwa said the raids on close aides of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had vindicated the charges he had consistently raised over the past four years regarding large-scale corruption and misuse of power under the AAP government. Bajwa said the shocking visuals emerging from the raids, including bags allegedly filled with cash being thrown out of a multi-storey building, had exposed the “true character” of the AAP government that claims to be a staunchly honest party.
Nearly 6,000 EU firms driving India’s growth, says report
European Union companies are playing an increasingly significant role in India’s economy, with nearly 6,000 firms contributing around five per cent of the country’s GDP and supporting close to six million jobs, according to a new report released on Wednesday.
Titled ‘The Economic Footprint of EU Businesses in India’, the report was unveiled by the European Union in India and highlights the growing integration of European firms into India’s economic landscape over the past decade.
According to the study, EU companies generated €186 billion in
turnover in 2024, accounting for nearly a quarter of India’s manufacturing sector turnover. The report said European firms supported around 3.7 million direct jobs and another two million jobs through supply chains and related services.
The companies also contributed €23.5 billion in exports, nearly six per cent of India’s total exports, besides paying about €7 billion in taxes and spending €271 million on corporate social responsibility initiatives in 2024.
The report noted that EU firms invested €218 billion cumulatively in India between 2014 and 2024.
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi,
Tamil Nadu and Haryana account for nearly 85 per cent of all EU companies operating in India. Karnataka has emerged as a major ICT and services hub, while Tamil Nadu and Gujarat are growing manufacturing centres.
EU Ambassador to India Hervé Delphin said EU businesses were contributing not just through investments but also through innovation, jobs and long-term economic integration.
The report comes as India and the European Union deepen economic ties under the Joint EU-India Comprehensive Strategic Agenda adopted earlier this year.
Indus Waters Treaty to remain in abeyance until Pakistan ends terror support: India
India on Thursday asserted that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan will remain in abeyance until Islamabad “credibly and irrevocably” ends its support for cross-border terrorism, as the Centre marked one year of Operation Sindoor.
Addressing the weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the world had witnessed the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack for what it was and reiterated that India had every right to defend itself against terrorism.
“Today we are marking the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor. The entire world saw the Pahalgam terrorist attack for what it was. We gave a befitting reply to Pakistan for its sponsorship of cross-border terrorism,” Jaiswal said.
to work to strengthen the global fight against terrorism,” he added.
On May 7, 2025 India had launched Operation Sindoor, a series of coordinated strikes on terror infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistanoccupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the Pahalgam massacre in which 26 civilians were killed on the basis of their religion.
“The world knows that cross-border terrorism has long been used by Pakistan as an instrument of state policy. We in India have every right to defend ourselves against terrorism. We will continue
On the future of the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty, the MEA spokesperson said India’s position remained unchanged. “Our position on the Indus Waters Treaty has been consistent. It stands in abeyance in response to Pakistan’s sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. Pakistan must credibly and irrevocably abjure its support for cross-border terrorism..... Obviously, talks and terror cannot go together,” he said. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, India had last year announced a series of diplomatic and strategic measures against Pakistan, including the decision to place the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. Brokered by the World Bank, the treaty governs the sharing of waters of the Indus river system between the two countries. Under the agreement, Pakistan receives rights over the western rivers -- Indus, Jhelum and Chenab -- while India has control over the eastern rivers -- Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. The treaty effectively gives Pakistan access to nearly 80 per cent of the waters of the Indus river system, while India retains around 20 per cent, along with limited usage rights on the western rivers for irrigation, power generation and other non-consumptive purposes.
"India stands strong, determined to convey message of zero tolerance for terrorism": EAM on Operation Sindoor anniversary
New Delhi [India], May 7 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Jaishankar on Thursday reaffirmed India's resolve against terrorism on the anniversary of Operation Sindoor, saying that India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, stands strong and determined to counter threats to peace and security.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said the operation reflected India's resolve to defend itself against cross-border terrorism and ensure accountability for terrorist actions.
"A year ago, #OperationSindoor demonstrated the nation's resolve to defend itself against crossborder terrorism from Pakistan. With its decisive actions, India ensured accountability for terrorist actions. And underlined that such a serious threat to peace and security will be effectively countered. Under the leadership of PM @narendramodi, India stands strong and determined to convey a message of zero tolerance for terrorism," he wrote Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita also hailed the valour of the armed
forces and highlighted how the world witnessed that those who threaten India's peace and security can never escape the reach of our forces.
In a post on X, he said the operation showcased the precision, courage and strength of the Indian Armed Forces and highlighted seamless coordination among intelligence agencies, strategic leadership and military forces.
"This historic operation reflected the seamless coordination between our intelligence agencies, strategic leadership and military forces, as India struck terror infrastructure across the border with unwavering resolve in response to the heinous Pahalgam attack.
TVK lacks the numbers to form govt, Guv tells Vijay
There was no sign of government formation in Tamil Nadu on Thursday even after voters of the state two days ago elected the TVK as the single largest party. The matter remains stuck at the level of Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who met TVK chief C Joseph Vijay on Thursday morning and told him that he did not have the numbers required to take oath as Chief Minister.
A statement from the Tamil Nadu Lok Bhavan said, “During the meeting with TVK chief Vijay, the Governor explained that the requisite majority support in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, essential for forming the government, has not
been established.” The TVK, which won 108 seats in an Assembly of 234, requires 118 seats and so far only has the public support of five Congress MLAs, taking the count to 113. While sources said the TVK was mulling moving the court against the Governor’s position, Vijay reached out to potential allies for support today.
The CPI and the CPM have said they will state their stand tomorrow. Both have two lawmakers each. The VCK, which also has two MLAs, said it would take a call once the Left had firmed up its stance.
CPM Tamil Nadu secretary P Shanmugam, CPI state secretary Veerapandian and VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan said they would decide by tomorrow even as all parties, including the DMK,
condemned the Governor for not inviting the single-largest party to form the government.
The Tamil Nadu Congress, in a statement, said governments were not decided in the lawns of Lok Bhavans, they were decided on the floor of the Assembly. “Experts say the Governor cannot demand a list of 118 MLAs who will support the TVK-led government. In our assessment, the BJP is creating confusion in Tamil Nadu. The TVK should be called and asked to prove its majority on the floor of the House. That’s the norm,” Thirumavalavan said.
Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal cited the 1988 Sarkaria Commission recommendations in the event of a hung House to say that when no pre-poll alliance is in a position to form the government, the singlelargest party is to be invited.
“In Tamil Nadu, Governors have been agents of the BJP. They have mauled the Constitution to serve the BJP’s interests. The Governor must call Vijay, leader of the single-largest party, swear him in as the CM and let him prove his majority on the floor of the House. No post-poll alliance is in majority, so the path is clear. The Sarkaria Commission settled this law, but who listens,” Sibal said. Former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said the constitutional remit of the Governor in this case was to invite the leader with majority support to form the government.
“It is clear that support of six other MLAs for Vijay will be forthcoming anytime now. The correct course for the Governor is to honour the people’s mandate and call upon Vijay to prove his majority on the floor of the House. The exercise of constitutional prerogative by the Governor cannot be seen at odds with the spirit of the mandate and the political morality that underpins democratic politics. Delaying the swearing-in of Vijay is a political outrage and a constitutional heresy,” Ashwani Kumar said.
Ready to counter Chinese missile threats from Pak: Military top brass on Operation Sindoor anniv
India’s military leadership on Thursday said it was ready to tackle fresh threats from Chineseorigin missiles acquired by Pakistan and reiterated that no terror sanctuary in Pakistan was safe, while also ruling out any third-country role in brokering peace between the two neighbours.
The military leadership -- Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, Air Marshal AK Bharti and Vice Admiral AN Pramod -- who had led military operations during Operation Sindoor in May last year, emphasised that Pakistan had failed to damage any military or civilian infrastructure in India during the skirmish (May 7-10, 2025).
On newer Chinese-origin missiles being tested by Pakistan, Air Marshal Bharti said, “We are continuously scanning… to always stay ahead of their capabilities.” Two more units of the Russianorigin S-400 air defence missile systems are expected to be inducted this year, including one later this month. The IAF currently operates three such systems. On the destruction caused inside Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, Air Marshal Bharti said,” Eleven Pakistan Air Force bases were hit and 13 planes were destroyed during the skirmish, forcing Pakistan to seek cessation of hostilities. “Narrative and rhetoric do not give you victory,” he remarked.
General Ghai said, “Pakistan lost 100 soldiers. We have presented hard facts of military losses to Pakistan with irrefutable pictures and videos. Show us one evidence Pakistan has provided for its claims.” The three officers were addressing a press conference in Jaipur on the sidelines of the Joint Commanders’ Conference. On terror infrastructure across the border, General Ghai said, “We have identified terror launch pads, terror camps and terror infrastructure across the Line of Control (LoC)… no sanctuary across the LoC is safe.” He said the number and nature of such camps might fluctuate and some had shifted deeper inside
Pakistan in the belief they would be safer, but no sanctuary was safe. Speaking on the Navy’s role during last year’s skirmish, Vice Admiral Pramod said indigenous ships such as aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and the Kolkata and Visakhapatnamclass destroyers validated the Navy’s investment in indigenous capability and preparedness. “If challenged again, we will not merely respond, we will shape the battlespace from the outset,” he said.
Asked about the possibility of Turkiye, China and Pakistan colluding as they did during last year’s conflict, General Ghai dismissed the concern. “You play against the team that turns up on the park. That is not something that should worry us so much. It is not something within our control. India and its armed forces are fully on the path to meeting these challenges,” he said.
The military leadership also said that after Operation Sindoor, the armed forces were undergoing transformation involving new weapons, missiles and upgrades of air defence systems and networks across both conventional and nextgeneration warfare domains.
General Ghai described Operation Sindoor as a defining moment in India’s strategic journey. “It played out like clockwork. It is the gold standard of operations,” he said. Air Marshal Bharti said Operation Sindoor had reaffirmed the primacy of air power, including aircraft, missiles, UAVs and helicopters.
‘Myanmar-based groups’ launch drone attack on Manipur villages
In a major flare up in violence in Manipur, militants allegedly belonging to Myanmar-based groups, launched a drone attack on border villages in Manipur’s Kamjong district during the early hours of May 7.
Although no fatalities were reported, a Naga man remains missing following the violence, with locals alleging that he may have been abducted by the attackers. Another villager was reportedly injured in the incident.
According to sources aware of details, many houses were destroyed in fire caused by these attacks, forcing several families to flee to safer areas. Notably, some of these villages have majority Naga population.
The local Naga MLA Leishiyo Keishing described the incident as “external aggression” originating from across the India-Myanmar border. He alleged that cadres linked to the Kuki National Army (Burma) and the People’s Defence Force (PDF) carried out the assault around 4 am. Official sources, quoting locals, said that some houses were burnt down in a couple of villages, while all the houses at Choro village were destroyed in the fire.
Keishing also criticised the response of the security forces, pointing out that an Assam Rifles camp located barely a few kilometres away did not intervene despite being stationed in the border region. He said villagers had repeatedly sought deployment of India Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel for better protection.
The MLA urged both the Centre and state government to take immediate steps to strengthen security along the porous IndiaMyanmar border, asserting that instability in Myanmar continues to spill over into the bordering areas of Manipur.
Reacting to the development, Former Chief Minister N Biren Singh said: “The brazen attack on the border villages of Namlee, Wanglee and Choro in Kamjong district, Manipur was an act of cross-border terrorism carried out by external forces from across the Indo-Myanmar border.”
“Our indigenous communities continue to face this grave threat from a continued external aggression. Unless this issue is effectively tackled with firm resolve and border security is strengthened, peace will continue to elude our state,” he added in his post on X.
The former CM said, “Both Central and state forces must be deployed and kept fully prepared to safeguard our borders, protect innocent
civilians, and maintain lasting peace and stability in the region. Our people must stand united to defend our land, identity and future. We will not allow such forces to destabilize Manipur.”
Several Kuki bodies like Kuki Inpi and Kuki Students Organisation condemned the attack. Hours later, the KNA (B) denied the MLA’s claim. It said the outfit was not involved in any activity within Indian territory. “Several media outlets are irresponsibly trying to drag and tarnish the image of KNA(B) without any credible evidence and facts,” it added.
Security forces neither confirmed nor denied the use of drones in the attack.
