73-year-old ‘undocumented’ Sikh woman deported from US after 33
years
A 73-year old “undocumented” Sikh woman, who lived in the US for over 30 years, was detained and deported to India by immigration authorities in California earlier this week without being given the chance to even say goodbye to her relatives, her advocate said. A widow, she had moved to the US in 1990s and had been living there with her two sons. She used to work there as a tailor in a clothing shop in Berkeley and was lovingly called as 'Bibiji' or 'Dadima'. Continued on Page 10...
Federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs have cost Canadian taxpayers more than $1 billion since 2016.
According to information published September 18 by Blacklock’s Reporter, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) government grants have totaled $1.049 billion since 2016, including grants for “cultural vegetables.” A $25 million grant, one of the largest individual grants, was given to the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to “strengthen Canada’s entrepreneurship ecosystem to be more accessible to LGBTQ small businesses.”
The government payouts were distributed among 29 departments, ranging from military to agricultural projects.
The Department of Agriculture spent $90,649 for “harvesting, processing and storage of cultural vegetables to strengthen food security in equity-deserving Black communities” in Ontario. Some departments failed to provide clear descriptions of how the taxpayer funds were used. For example, Prairies Economic Development Canada spent $190.1 million on projects related to diversity, equity and inclusion ventures but could not provide details. Continued on Page 9...
(L toR)Chief Constable Steve Rai (Breaking Barriers),Hargun Dhillon (Community Crusader),Sarabjit Cheema(Heritage Defender) Dr. Shimi Kang(Industry Marvel),Daisy Bains(Young Wonder) Harpreet Kaur Chandi(International Sensation) Delreen Motiwalla(Corporate Engagement) received by Jeevan's mother, Gurvinder Badwal(Spirit of Sport) and Kulwinder Sanghera Red FM Canada- Advancing Philanthropy
President Donald Trump announced that his administration will impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions. The new fee went into effect as of September 21, 2025, and will greatly impact employers’ ability to secure the highly educated foreign workers who come to the United States on the H-1B visa.
Employers will now be required to pay a one-time $100,000 fee per new petition. Previously, it cost employers between $2,000 to $5,000 per petition, depending on the size of the employer. Continued on Page 10...
When Anuparna Roy accepted the Orizzonti Award for her debut film Songs of Forgotten Trees in Venice earlier this month, she'd forged a victory that's rare for most women of her background.
Trembling with joy and unable to hold back tears, Roy's visceral display of emotion on stage demonstrated how big the moment was - scripting history as the first Indian director to win in a category specially devoted to new voices in independent world cinema. Continued on Page 9...
A B.C. boy is suing the makers of a popular online gaming platform, claiming the website is designed to addict children.
The proposed class action lawsuit is on behalf of a 12-year-old boy who is only referred to as DJ because of his age.
The lawsuit says the plaintiff started playing Roblox at age five or six and began showing signs of addiction shortly after that.
The lawsuit alleges the site uses tactics such as prompting users to spend its online currency to create their own content, causing impulsive spending and an increased risk of addiction and displaying addictive behaviour leading to anxiety, depression and other symptoms.
The notice of claim alleges the defendants designed Roblox with the core goal of maximizing user engagement, play duration, and in-game expenditure.
It also alleges that the defendants did so without taking adequate steps to limit the impact on users arising from the harmful design elements.
BCGEU strike expands to 25 B.C. liquor stores across province
The B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) escalated strike action on Wednesday when more than 600 workers walked off the job at 25 Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) retail stores across the province. In a release from the BCGEU, the union said the locations were chosen because they “represent a significant source of government revenue.”
In addition, almost 1,000 workers at a multiministry site (Agriculture, Environment, Forests, Jobs, Tourism, Water) on Jutland Road in Victoria joined the strike, the BCGEU said.
BCGEU president and chair of the Public Service Bargaining Committee, in a release.
“We recognize this escalation will impact the restaurant industry and small businesses, who are being caught in the middle of this dispute. That’s why we’re calling on them to join us in pressing government to return to the table. Like them, we are frustrated that government continues to stall and refuses to return to the table to negotiate.”
According to the union, more than 14,000 public service workers are now on strike. “Starting this week, public service workers have been forced to significantly escalate strike action,” said Paul Finch,
According to the BCGEU, this is the longest public service strike in B.C.’s history.
The union says it is asking for an 8.25 per cent pay hike. The province says it offered a 4.5 per cent increase in wages and cost-of-living increases over two years.
Canadian man shot and killed during U.S. golf trip
Wisconsin police are investigating after a Canadian man was shot and killed at around midnight Thursday.
The victim was Ontario-born Giovanni Michael Robinson, who went by Mike, family told CTV News. He was in Sheboygan Falls near the west coast of Lake Michigan for a golf trip. He was 32.
Local police responded to a 911 call about an individual suffering from a gunshot wound. When officers arrived at a stretch of Munroe Street — a mostly commercial stretch in the centre of the city — they found Robinson. Despite life-saving measures, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say they believe he was shot by someone driving a small, dark-coloured SUV. CTV News reached out to Sheboygan Falls police, who would not confirm specifics of the investigation. No suspects have been apprehended.
Robinson was born in Stouffville, Ont., north of Toronto, but was most recently living in Pennsylvania. He worked with an indoor golfing company and often travelled around the U.S. to play.
Hours before he was shot, he called his brother, Jacob Robinson, from the golf course to share some exciting news.
“He got his first hole in one, on hole 13,” said Jacob in a video interview from Toronto Pearson International Airport. Family members are meeting in Sheboygan Falls to retrieve Mike’s remains. “That
phone call is just playing in my head. It’s one of the last joyous phone calls that I’ll ever get to share with my best friend,” said Jacob. “I just told him how proud I was of him. He FaceTimed his baby, who’s only five weeks old, and shared that moment with her.” Mike became a father to a baby girl in August. Jacob says he was excited to meet her. Mike was expected to visit in early October for their sister’s wedding. The wedding has been postponed.
CTV News asked Jacob what he will tell Mike’s daughter about who her father was.
“He was going to make sure that you were always going to be taken care of,” he said. “He was already starting to save up for your tuition.”
B.C. finance minister questioned over restaurant, limo bill during 2023 junket
B.C.’s finance minister is under fire about the bill she and her team racked up during a 2023 junket.
Brenda Bailey was the minister of jobs, economic development and innovation when she and five staffers travelled to Boston for a biotechnology conference.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says documents it obtained through freedom of information show the team ate at high-end restaurants and billed for more than $6,600 for a car service over the four days. “This absolutely raises questions about whether Minister
Bailey is fit to serve as our finance minister and do the hard work of finding savings for British Columbians,” Carson Binda with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation told Global News. During an afternoon press conference on Wednesday, Bailey defended the trip and related spending, saying she would do it again.
“We are a part of a group that’s travelling around to different meetings, so it’s not that I had the option to go to a Wendy’s. This is a structured program that we’re meeting with investors and we go the places that they are at.”
Abbotsford police launch dedicated extortion task force
The Abbotsford Police Department has launched a new task force following a string of violent extortion-related incidents against South Asian business owners and families.
The internal task force, dubbed Operation Community Shield, follows four incidents in just two weeks, including shootings and vehicle arsons.
“I would call the extortion–related events that are happening, not only in Abbotsford, but across the Lower Mainland, extremely serious,” APD Sgt. Paul Walker said.
“We have people that are living in their homes, we have business owners that are running businesses that are being victimized with violent crime, and that is not OK.” Since November 2023, the APD has recorded 38
reports of extortion-related incidents, though the vast majority involved non-violent methods, such as threatening letters, phone calls or text messages.
The newly formed task force pulls together a variety of resources, including major crimes, surveillance teams and crime analysts. “They’re focused on Abbottsford-related incidents,” Walker said. “We’ve also seconded two of our officers to the provincial extortion task force.”
The provincial task force was announced earlier this month.
The City of Surrey also announced it would be backing a $250,000 fund to reward tipsters who came forward with credible information resulting in charges and arrests.
Former MPs launch volunteer effort to renew NDP ahead of leadership race RCMP charges 7 suspects from the GTA in dark web bust
The RCMP has charged seven suspects from the Greater Toronto Area in connection with the what it describes as “one of the largest known” drug trafficking operations conducted on the dark web in Canadian history.
In a news release issued Thursday, the RCMP said it was contacted by authorities in Germany, following a takedown of a dark web marketplace with links to “several” Canadian-based users.
They said the investigation was first referred to the RCMP Cybercrime Unit in Vancouver, before it was handed over to the Serious and Organized Crime Unit in Milton, Ont. due to the “nature and scope of the suspected criminal activity.”
The RCMP says investigators worked with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), as well as the Joint Cybercrime Action Taskforce (J-CAT) – Europol and Canada Post Security, to analyze the data from the dark web takedown in Germany.
That led investigators to a group the RCMP identified as “RoadRunna,” a “sophisticated criminal enterprise” which was allegedly responsible for shipping roughly 400 packages weekly across the country.
Following the execution of a several search warrants, police said they seized 75 kilograms of various narcotics, including cocaine, MDMA, meth, heroin, and ketamine. Some 10,000 tablets of prescription and non-prescription pills were also seized and packaging of the goods were found to be branded in “RoadRunna” packaging.
“The RCMP is immensely proud of the work done with our domestic and international partners on this investigation to stop illegal activities on the dark web, Insp. Nicole Noonan, of Central Region RCMP, said in a news release.
“Criminals are finding increasingly sophisticated and modern ways to evade the law, but we will
continue to identify, disrupt, and dismantle these types of networks.”
All seven suspects charged in connection with the bust are all from the Greater Toronto area. They include Raphael Magdales (40), of Toronto, Kevin Lau (30), of Brampton, Richard Tat (31), of Brampton, Calvin But (32), of Toronto, Daneil Matti (31), of Brampton, Matthew Wong (46), of Toronto, and Tommy Tao (30), of Mississauga.
The suspects were charged with various drugtrafficking related offences. None of the charges have been tested in court.
The RCMP describes the dark web as a hidden and encrypted part of the internet that is not accessible by regular search engines.
“It requires special software in order to access, and is often used to facilitate criminal activity, such as the sale of illegal drugs, weapons, and other illicit goods and services. Criminals use the dark web in an attempt to conceal their identity and evade law enforcement,” the RCMP said.
OTTAWA — Two former New Democrat MPs who lost their seats in the April election are launching a six-month project to renew the NDP and chart its future, ahead of the March convention.
Peter Julian and Matthew Green said they are volunteering to lead the effort, which they said will both complement and go beyond the party’s formal election post-mortem and leadership race.
“The NDP is needed now more than ever,” Julian said at a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday.
“What we’ve seen over the summer is more and more voters’ remorse about the Carney government.”
The NDP lost official party status when it elected only seven members in April, its worst performance in any federal election. The party has tasked lawyer and former candidate Emilie Taman with conducting a campaign post-mortem.
Jagmeet Singh stepped down as leader after losing his own seat on election night. A leadership race is underway and members are set to choose the next leader at a convention in Winnipeg in March. Green said New Democrats can’t afford to wait until then to launch a larger review.
country against Donald Trump.”
Green and Julian said they won’t be endorsing a candidate in the leadership race.
Doris Mah, who volunteered on Julian’s campaign, said the April election results were shocking and disheartening. She told reporters the party needs to listen to its members.
“We need to make sure everybody’s voices are being heard and everybody should have a seat at the table to contribute their ideas. That’s including how a campaign is run and, moving forward, how do we build the party,” she said.
“The rebuild of the party cannot rest on the shoulders of one person alone, which is why we’ve been working with, over the last several months, a coalition of grassroots groups,” Green said.
He said it will take work to identify and engage with people who have supported the NDP in the past, “those who perhaps held their nose and voted Liberal because they thought they had to save the
Julian and Green have the support of a grassroots group calling itself Reclaim Canada’s NDP. Reclaim said it was founded by local riding associations, former candidates and volunteers and is working to make the NDP “a viable political option for the average Canadian.”
It has been urging people to redirect donations away from the federal party and give them instead to local riding associations as a way of sending a message.
Alberta leads country in interprovincial migration for 3rd straight year
For three straight years, Alberta has been the most popular destination, on net, for Canadian residents moving within the country, according to new data released Wednesday by Statistics Canada.
The influx of people from other provinces, along with a surge in babies being born and the arrival of new immigrants, has pushed Alberta's population over the five-million mark.
The province was home to 5,029,346 people as of July 1, according to the latest estimates from Statistics Canada. Over the second quarter of 2025 (April through June), Alberta's population grew by roughly 0.4 per cent.
Canada's population grew by just 0.1 per cent over the same period. That marks the country's lowest second-quarter growth rate, outside of pandemic years, since 1946, when comparable record-keeping began.
British Columbia was the only province or territory with a population decrease during the quarter, shrinking by 0.04 per cent.
Alberta continued to be the top destination for people moving within Canada, as the province gained 6,187 people thanks to interprovincial migration in the second quarter of 2025.
That marks 12 straight quarters — three full years — that it has led the country on this front.
Ontario, meanwhile, lost 6,154 residents due to interprovincial migration from April through June. It has seen the largest net loss of interprovincial migrants for 15 straight quarters. Most of the interprovincial migrants arriving in Alberta came from Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
Statistics Canada estimates that 8,780 Ontarians moved to Alberta in April, May and June, versus 5,793 Albertans who moved to Ontario, for a net gain of 2,987 people.
An estimated 3,289 people moved from
Saskatchewan to Alberta during that same time, versus 2,225 moving from Alberta to Saskatchewan, for a net gain of 1,064.
And an estimated 8,931 British Columbians moved to Alberta, compared to 7,906 people going the other way, for a net gain of 1,025.
International migration — on a permanent basis — accounted for an even larger share of Alberta's population growth in the second quarter of 2025, with the province gaining 11,538 residents from other countries from April through June.
The number of temporary international residents in the province, meanwhile, declined by 3,818 over that same time period.
The province's population naturally increased (that is, through more births than deaths) by 5,361 people in the second quarter of the year.
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Donald Trump’s Ukraine U-turn: What India can learn from Volodymyr Zelenskyy
US President Donald Trump’s “Yes, I do” to the most pointed and relevant question in the Russia-Ukraine war has marked a significant moment in his eight-month-old presidency. With Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by his side, POTUS was asked if he thinks NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace: “Yes, I do.”
Pressed further, and asked if he would back up NATO allies, he said it would “depend” on the circumstances. He said he heard about the Danish situation but didn’t have details. Asked for an update on talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and if he still trusts him, Trump said, “I’ll let you know in about a month from now.”
This is a significant movement forward from the disastrous February meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy in the White House.
And, it came just after his 56-minute speech at the UN General Assembly’s iconic green podium, where he blamed India, China and NATO for buying Russian energy and funding the war machine.
What is significant is that Trump said in his UN speech to world leaders, that he thought a resolution to this conflict would be “the easiest” because he has had a good relationship with Putin. Trump said he is open to imposing more sanctions on Russia and urged Europe to join in.
Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept. # 202 - 8388, 128 St., Surrey, BC V3W 4G2
Hours later, Trump wrote on Truth Social, “Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years, a War that should have taken a Real Military Power less than a week to win..this is not distinguishing Russia. In fact, it is very much making them look like ‘a paper tiger.’” At the UN, Trump said the war in Ukraine was making Russia “look bad” because it was “supposed to be a quick little skirmish”. “It shows you what leadership is, what bad leadership can do to a country,” he said. “The only question now is how many lives will be needlessly.
MP Sukh Dhaliwal Introduces Private Members’ Bill to
Strengthen Accountability in Health Care
Ottawa, ON - September 22, 2025 - Today, Sukh Dhaliwal, Member of Parliament for Surrey Newton, introduced a Private Members’ Bill to amend the Canada Health Act to strengthen accountability in how provinces deliver health care services.
The legislation would make full federal health transfers conditional on provinces developing and publishing an accountability framework to ensure Canadians have timely access to care and that health dollars are being spent efficiently.
Under the proposed amendments, provinces would be required to:
• Establish benchmarks for timely access to primary care, elective procedures, and emergency services;
• Report publicly, on a yearly basis, on whether those benchmarks are being met; and
• Provide information to the federal Minister of Health on measures taken to ensure transparency, including making reports and frameworks publicly
In August, five years after a fatal military clash between China and India, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveled to Tianjin to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. The visit marked Modi’s first trip to China since relations between the Asian neighbors soured in 2020. Western analysts were struck by images of Modi holding hands and laughing with Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Several observers feared that U.S. President Donald Trump’s tirades and tariffs—he imposed a 50 percent tariff rate on India over the summer—
available online.
“This bill is about giving Canadians confidence that our health care system is delivering results,” said MP Dhaliwal. “Provinces will continue to design and manage their own systems, but they must do so transparently, with clear benchmarks and reporting, so Canadians can see whether progress is being made.”
The bill also requires provinces to periodically review and update their benchmarks in line with emerging evidence and best practices, ensuring that accountability evolves alongside the health care system.
“Canadians deserve to know that every dollar invested in health care is being used effectively to reduce wait times and improve access to care. This bill strengthens accountability while respecting provincial jurisdiction over health care delivery” added Dhaliwal.
The proposed legislation will now move forward for debate at Second Reading in the House of Commons.
had pushed New Delhi into Beijing’s arms. That assertion gets both cause and effect wrong. Modi’s meeting with Xi was neither a sudden response to Trump’s bullying nor a hurried reset of India’s relationship with China. And New Delhi is certainly not in Beijing’s arms, nor is it striving alongside Beijing and Moscow to establish a new anti-Western order. India has indeed been working with China for nearly a year to return some measure of stability to bilateral relations. Those efforts, however, don’t obviate the fact that the rivalry between the two Asian giants persists.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has signed new agreements on trade and defence cooperation with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Parliament Hill.
The trade deal is comprehensive, meaning it opens up trade in multiple industries with the world’s fourth most populous country.
Carney said the “game-changing” agreement is the first-ever bilateral trade pact signed with a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
“Once it’s fully implemented, it means that over 95 per cent of the tariffs on Canada’s current exports to Indonesia will be reduced or eliminated,” he told reporters in Ottawa.
“They will all be at preferential rates, making our exports obviously far more competitive.”
The prime minister also announced a new defence cooperation agreement that will “deepen our collaboration on maritime security cyber defence, peacekeeping and military education.”
“This is critical for Canada as part of our IndoPacific strategy, and it sends a strong signal to the world that Canada and Indonesia are committed to working together for peace and stability in the region and beyond,” he said. Last November both countries announced they had finished trade negotiations that started in 2021. Indonesia is looking to Canada for resources and for potential work on critical minerals and nuclear energy
technology. Indonesia’s population of 280 million people is younger than most, and the country has been trying to wean itself off the carbon economy as it copes with threats to its biodiversity.
Subianto says Canada is a “very responsible, mature, leading power of the West” but also one that has “great empathy for the concerns of the developing nations.”
Canada has increased its engagements with ASEAN in recent years on economic and security matters in a bid to boost its presence in the IndoPacific and counter China’s influence.
Elenore Sturko kicked out of BC Conservative caucus, says it's time for John Rustad to resign
Elenore Sturko says it’s time for John Rustad to resign as leader of the Conservative Party of BC. Sturko spoke with the media outside the legislature after she was kicked out of caucus. Rustad accused her of plotting against his leadership, a claim she denies.
Sturko said Rustad's decision blindsided and shocked her, and she feels a "deep sense of hurt" because she worked hard to bridge the gap between those who are socially liberal but fiscally conservative.
She said she doesn't know whether other MLAs might get kicked out, but "several" of her former colleagues are preparing leadership campaigns.
"I think there are people from all parts of the right of centre who would like to see John Rustad resign today," she said.
She claimed she has been having conversations with other MLAs about Rustad's leadership campaign, but said she wasn't organizing against him. The B.C. Conservatives contingent in the legislature has lost another member.
Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Elenore Sturko has been ejected from caucus.
She was spotted leaving the legislature with a box full of belongings on Monday evening.
Sturko said she was kicked out by leader John Rustad over what she said were false allegations she was organizing against him, reported Lodestar Media columnist Rob Shaw.
Her removal from caucus came just hours after the party announced that Rustad had received 70.66 per cent support in a vote by party members on his leadership. However, only 1,268 members voted in the review.
Sturko was first elected as the MLA for Surrey South in 2022 under the BC Liberal Party banner. She was re-elected as the MLA for SurreyCloverdale as a B.C. Conservative in 2024.
Feds
introduce legislation to combat hate crimes, intimidation in Canada
The federal government introduced legislation Friday (Sept. 19) to combat hate crimes, intimidation and obstruction.
The Combatting Hate Act, introduced by federal Justice Minister and Attorney General Sean Fraser, comes after what the federal government says is "a horrifying rise in hate crimes in our communities."
"Canada will not tolerate anyone being made to feel afraid because of who they are, how they worship, or where they gather," notes the release Friday. "Rising antisemitism, Islamophobia, homophobia and transphobia have left too many people feeling unsafe in their own communities."
The proposed changes to the Criminal Code would codify a definition of "hatred,"clarifying when conduct constitutes a hate crime, the release adds.
The act would also amend the Criminal Code in
three parts:
• Making it a crime to intimidate and obstruct people from accessing places of worship, as well as schools, community centres and other places primarily used by an identifiable group
• Making hate-motivated crime a specific offence and that offenders are held accountable
• Making it a crime to wilfully promote hatred against an identifiable group by displaying terrorism or hate symbols in public
The Combatting Hate Act would also "streamline the process to lay hate propaganda charges by removing the requirement to obtain the Attorney General’s consent." By removing that step, according to the release, law enforcement "would be able to act quickly to counter hate speech and protect communities." Currently the Criminal Code has four hate propaganda offences, but most require an Attorney General's consent before charges can be laid.
The proposed changes respect Canadians' Charter freedoms of expression and peacefully assembly. It "would not unreasonably impact the freedom to protest, or voice concerns peacefully."
The release adds the proposed changes target criminal behaviour that intimidates or obstructs access to community spaces, "making clear where the line is drawn."
Canada Post union launches strike as Ottawa moves to curb door-to-door mail
OTTAWA - The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is declaring a countrywide strike, hours after Ottawa announced door-to-door mail delivery will end for nearly all Canadian households within the next decade.
CUPW posted a notice on its website early Thursday evening that all of its Canada Post members were walking off the job.
“In response to the Government’s attack on our postal service and workers, effective immediately, all CUPW members at Canada Post are on a nationwide strike,” the statement reads.
The Canadian Press has requested further comment from the union but has not yet had a response. Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu wrote that it’s up to the union and the Crown corporation to find the balance between the future of postal service and respect for employees.
“Federal mediators remain available to support the bargaining process, and I encourage both parties to continue working toward a fair resolution,” she wrote in a statement her office provided in response to the union’s notice.
Canada Post spokeswoman Lisa Liu said in a statement that no new mail will be accepted during the labour disruption. “Mail and parcels will not be processed or delivered for the duration
of the national strike, and some post offices will be closed,” she wrote.
“The corporation is disappointed that the union chose to escalate their strike activity, which will further deteriorate Canada Post’s financial situation.” The corporation says it and the union have agreed to continue delivering government
welfare cheques and that a process is in place to deliver existing live-animal shipments, though no new ones will be accepted.
The job action comes after Procurement
Minister Joel Lightbound announced sweeping changes Thursday aimed at shoring up Canada Post’s finances in response to a decline in letter mail and the Crown corporation’s small share of the parcel market. Those changes also will include slowing down the frequency of mail delivery and shuttering some post offices.
Longueuil, Que. woman pleads guilty to throwing boiling water on 10-year-old boy
A Longueuil, Que., woman accused of throwing boiling water on a 10-year-old boy pleaded guilty to aggravated assault Thursday morning.
Stéphanie Borel, 46, was charged after scalding the boy, who was her neighbour, last fall. She was arrested and released on Oct. 2, 2024, before being rearrested Oct. 11.
The child’s identity is protected by a publication ban.
According to the agreed statement of facts, there was no evidence that Borel, who is white, targeted the boy, who is Black, based on race.
The document says Borel’s home was near the boy’s elementary school and for several months children rang her doorbell to play “ding-dong ditch” after school.
Borel’s victim didn’t have time to ring her doorbell before she opened the door and threw a container
filled with boiling water on him, saying “It’s hot, huh! Get lost.”
The boy’s face, torso and shoulders were scalded — documents say four per cent of his body surface area was burned to the second degree, but he did not need surgery. ‘There is a woman who burned me’
After the incident in 2024, the boy’s father told CTV News he came through the door screaming. “‘Daddy! Daddy! There is a woman who burned me,’ he said. I turned around, the skin on his face was falling off,” said the father at the time.
Following her arrest, Borel was released awaiting further court appearances.
But the next day, the boy and his friends noticed the woman was filming them with her cellphone while they went to school. She had a sign on her door saying, “Smile, you’re being filmed.”
Canadian gov’t spending on DEI programs exceeds $1 billion since 2016
Continued from Page 1...
“PrairiesCan conducted a search in our grants and contributions management system using the keywords ‘equity,’ ‘diversity’ and ‘inclusion,’” the Inquiry said. “Certain projects were included where diversity, equity and inclusion were referenced but may not be the main focus of the project.” DEI projects are presented as efforts by organizations to promote fair treatment, representation, and access to opportunities for people from varied backgrounds. However, the projects are often little more than LGBT propaganda campaigns funded by the Liberal government.
As LifeSiteNews reported, the University of British Columbia Vancouver campus posted an opening for a research chair position that essentially barred non-homosexual white men from applying for the job.
'No sugar-coated cinema for me': Indian director who scripted history at Venice
Continued from Page 1...
That itself is a towering achievement, but Roy's grassroots origins in a nondescript tribal village in West Bengal state's Purulia district - thousands of miles from Venice's glamorous palazzos - makes her triumph even more meaningful.
From Ritwik Ghatak to Satyajit Ray to Mrinal Sen, Bengal has produced many globally celebrated auteurs. But unlike them, Roy, 31, grew up far away from the elite cultural influences of Kolkata, and took a path more well-worn by smalltown Indians - a college degree followed by a call-centre job. It was an escape route from the pressures of marrying and "a means to economic stability", Roy told me over a Zoom chat.
But it ended up becoming much more.
While peddling IT software in Delhi, a chance meeting with film students triggered a love affair with cinema and Roy saved every penny earned over the next six years to self-fund her debut short Run to the River.
After moving to Mumbai a few years later, she tracked down Ranjan Singh, the lead producer of Songs of Forgotten Trees, at a party and asked him bluntly: "Sir, would you like to produce a third-world film?"
Taken aback by her boldness, Singh asked Roy to meet him the following day and narrate the idea in less than 10 minutes. The meeting lasted well over a few hours, and within days he had agreed to fund the project.
Crown reviewing assault charges laid against Ontario man who fought intruder
Crown attorneys are reviewing assault charges laid by police against a Lindsay, Ont., man accused of attacking a home invader last month after an overnight break-in.
A prosecutor on Thursday told Ontario Court of Justice in Lindsay — part of the city of Kawartha Lakes — the Crown is reviewing evidence and still needs to "make its determinations about how the matter will proceed."
The development leaves a question mark over the highprofile case that set off a cross-country debate over the use of force and self-defence in one's own home. Kawartha Lakes police said they
were called to an apartment at 3:20 a.m. ET on Aug. 18 after the tenant awoke to find an intruder in his home and a fight broke out.
According to court documents, Jeremy David McDonald, 44, wielded a knife and "did endanger the life" of the alleged intruder, Michael Kyle Breen, who was armed with a crossbow.
Investigators said Breen, 41, sustained life-threatening injuries in the encounter and had to be airlifted to a Toronto hospital — 100 kilometres away — for treatment. A lawyer for McDonald appeared on his behalf in court Thursday before a justice of the peace. The matter was put over to Dec. 18.
‘I did it for the victims’: Robert Pickton’s killer tells court during guilty plea
MONTREAL — An inmate who has pleaded guilty to murdering Robert Pickton in prison last year says he did it for the serial killer’s victims.
Martin Charest admitted today to fatally assaulting Pickton with a broken broom handle at the Port-Cartier federal penitentiary in May 2024.
Charest pleaded guilty to first-degree murder during a court appearance in Sept-Iles, Que., northeast of Quebec City.
Pickton was convicted in 2007 of six counts of second-degree murder, but confessed to killing a total of 49 women whom he lured to his pig farm near Vancouver. A statement of facts read out in court detailed how Charest locked himself into a room with Pickton and assaulted him twice while
guards were unable to enter.
Charest told the judge he murdered Pickton after the serial killer had continued to brag about the murders and told other inmates he’d commit more crimes if he was ever released.
This report by the Canadian Press was first published Sept. 25, 2025.
Continued from Page 1...
What is the H-1B visa?
Trump’s $100,000 Fee for H-1B Visas: What You Need to Know
The H-1B visa category allows employers to petition for highly educated foreign professionals to temporarily work in “specialty occupations.” These jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent and include positions like civil engineers, software developers, and researchers. Typically, the initial duration of an H-1B visa classification is three years but may be extended up to six.
Since creating the visa program in 1990, Congress has limited the number of H-1Bs made available each year. The current annual statutory cap is 65,000 visas, with 20,000 additional visas for foreign professionals who graduate with a master’s degree or doctorate from a U.S. institution of higher learning.
Who are H-1B workers?
H-1B workers are often in the mathematics,
engineering, technology, and medical science fields, ranging from software engineers and doctors to architects and financial analysts. The majority, however, (nearly 65%) had computer-related jobs as of 2023 data.
Over 70% of H-1B visa holders are Indian citizens. Though the move could lead to issues for U.S. businesses with Indian ties, the impact extends beyond the financial.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a response to President Trump’s new fee, stating that the measure will likely have “humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families.” The statement went on to say that the Indian government “hopes that these disruptions can be addressed suitably by the U.S. authorities.”
In the immediate aftermath of the fee announcement, families were left behind as H-1B visa holders scrambled to reach the United States before the fee went into effect, fearing they would
be locked out of the country. Though the White House later clarified that the fee would not apply to existing visa holders, confusion had already gripped visa holders, their families, and the companies that employ them.
Some have canceled their plans to return to their home countries, believing that even a vacation is too risky right now.
How will U.S companies be impacted?
Some of the largest tech companies and top banks in the U.S. will be hit particularly hard by the change.
Amazon was the biggest sponsor of H-1B workers for fiscal year 2025, employing over 10,000 people with the visa, followed by other household names like Microsoft, Meta, Apple, Google, Cognizant Technology Solutions, JPMorgan Chase, and Walmart.
Economists are already sounding the alarm that the astronomical fee will likely hurt the U.S. economy, resulting in a “brain drain” of qualified workers moving to other countries and slower economic growth overall.
Do H-1B workers take jobs from Americans? No, they do not take jobs from U.S. workers. Before an employer can file a petition with USCIS, they must take specific steps to ensure that hiring an H-1B worker will not harm U.S. workers.
Employers first must attest, on a labor condition application certified by the Department of Labor, that employment of the foreign worker will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers. They also must provide existing workers with notice that they plan to hire an H-1B worker.
In fact, studies have found that H-1B workers complement and strengthen employment opportunities for native-born workers in the United States. That’s why unemployment rates are relatively low in occupations that hire large numbers of H-1B workers.
Low unemployment rates in the occupations typically requested for H-1B workers from 2004 through 2023 (even during the COVID-19 pandemic) show that demand for labor exceeded the supply.
73-year-old ‘undocumented’ Sikh woman deported from US after 33 years
Continued from Page 1... In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Deepak Ahluwalia, the advocate, said, “Bibi ji (Harjit Kaur) is on her way back to Punjab. She has already landed in India.” Ahluwalia posted on Instagram that she had exhausted all her options and that the real problem was that the ICE was unable to procure her travel documents that she required to go back to India.
Kaur was detained by immigration authorities in California after she went for a routine check, triggering protests and concerns among her family and community members. Kaur, a resident of East Bay in northern California for more than 30 years, was detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
officials during a routine check, a report in Berkeleyside, a non-profit news portal, said earlier. Her family along with hundreds of community members organised a protest, demanding the immediate release of Kaur, who was detained after the ICE officials asked her to come to its San Francisco office for additional paperwork. She was then taken to a detention centre in Bakersfield, Ahluwalia said. In the post, Ahluwalia claimed Kaur was taken from Bakersfield to Los Angeles where she was put on a flight to Georgia and thereafter to New Delhi. He also claimed that Kaur’s family members urged the authorities to give her a chance to say final goodbye to her relatives before she was sent back, but permission was denied.
113 scam-related complaints were received by the Consumer Council of Fiji between September 2024 and September 2025, with consumers reporting financial losses exceeding $82,000.
The Consumer Council says despite ongoing warnings and nationwide awareness campaigns, scammers continue to develop increasingly sophisticated tactics to target unsuspecting individuals.
The Council says that before the widely publicized eBay scam, which cost consumers thousands of dollars, there were already cases involving fraudulent and informal lending schemes.
have quickly adapted, introducing a range of new scams including multi-level marketing schemes, fraudulent investments, astrology and fortunetelling rackets, impersonation fraud, phishing messages, and mobile money scams, with many of these schemes falsely promising easy money from home and misleading consumers.
The Council says the impact of these scams extends beyond financial loss, as victims frequently experience emotional distress, strained family relationships, and a growing mistrust of essential digital services.
Since then, the Council says the scammers
Young people and those active online remain vulnerable to these deceptive offers.
RB Patel Group nets $12m profit
SUPERMARKET chain RB Patel Group has declared a final dividend of 3.5 cents per share, amounting to $5.25million to be paid by the end of this month.
This latest dividend declaration will bring the total dividends paid out for the financial year to 5.5 cents per share, amounting to $8.25m.
The public-listed company also reported a net profit after tax of $12m for the financial year ended June 30 this year. It recorded increased revenues and other incomes to $190m, up by more than 4.5 per cent from $184m recorded last year.
The group also reported that profit from operating activities decreased by 1.4 per cent to $17.9m this year from $18.2m last year.
PM Rabuka: Labour mobility must strengthen home nation
PRIME Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says one of the most complex challenges is ensuring regional labour mobility benefits all our nationsboth sending and receiving workers. He told
and not weaken home communities.
That, he added meant:
– skills development must flow both ways – workers returning home with new expertise that enriches their communities; – remittances should support not only families but also broader community development; – circular migration should complement permanent local employment, not replace it; – workers abroad must enjoy equal rights and protections, ensuring their dignity and security.
those present at the inaugural Pacific Regional Tripartite Conference in Nadi yesterday the workers in the Pacific contribute enormously across the region and beyond.
However, he said mobility must strengthen
Mr Rabuka said the Talanoa Forum at the conference would coordinate these eff orts, sharing best practices and addressing challenges together.
“The centerpiece of this conference is the launch of the Regional PS Employment Talanoa Forum.
August investment indicators mixed
THE Reserve Bank of Fiji has reported slow recovery in partial indicators for investment amid a high-cost environment.
In its economic review for the August monthend, the RBF said movements in forward looking indicators such as new investment loans, excluding refinancing, in the year to July were positive at 1.4 per cent. That was led by higher lending to the real estate sector and households for investment homes, it said. On the other hand, the RBF stated cement sales fell 14.4 per cent in the first half of the year owing to the mill closure by Pacific Cement Limited between March and June early this year.
Pacific Cement Ltd suspended cement production in mid-March following a mill breakdown, and it resumed operations after three months in mid-June.
Also in the first quarter, new building permits issued rose by 11.3 per cent while the value of permits fell -21.5 per cent.
“The decline in the value of private dwellings off
set the growth in the value for commercial building permits,” the RBF stated.
“Price effects, as proxied by the building material prices index, strengthened further (4.0 per cent) in the first half of the year, and remain a constraint on investment activity.
“Nonetheless, the reduction in the VAT rate could improve investor sentiments,” it stated.
The RBF also noted that credit activity remained upbeat amid conducive financial conditions in July. It stated the pickup in broad money was driven by net domestic credit, particularly private sector credit (9.5 per cent).
SOUTH ASIA
Pak: Traders in PoGB continue sit-in despite conditional tax exemptions
PoGB [Pakistan], September 25 (ANI): Traders in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) have decided to continue their sit-in despite the government agreeing to conditionally exempt imports routed through the Sost Dry Port from key federal taxes, trade leader Javed Hussain, who has been leading the protest, Dawn reported on Thursday. Traders in PoGB have been staging the sit-in since July, blocking the port to protest against taxation policies and the suspension of customs clearance. Following talks in Islamabad between the federal government, the PoGB administration and local business leaders, it was announced that tax exemptions would be granted on imports through the port, provided the goods were for
local consumption and subject to strict eligibility conditions. The exemptions were capped at PKR 4 billion annually.
‘Six Million Baloch Stand With India…’: Rajnath Singh’s PoK Statement Wins Baloch Leaders’ Support
Islamabad: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent remarks on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) have sent shockwaves across Islamabad.
Baloch leaders welcomed and publicly endorsed the statements, viewing them as recognition of their decades-long fight for freedom from Pakistan.
Speaking to the Indian diaspora in Morocco, Singh asserted that India would regain control of PoK without resorting to aggressive military action. He noted that the people of the region are increasingly demanding liberation from the current administration. “PoK will become ours naturally. You must have heard the slogans,” he said. The minister added that he had conveyed a similar message five years ago while addressing a programme of the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Loans over loans is not a solution," says PM Shehbaz Sharif at UN climate event
New York [US], September 25 (ANI): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday urged the international community to fulfil its commitments on climate finance, stressing that debt-driven support could not address the catastrophe confronting vulnerable nations like Pakistan, Dawn reported.
Speaking at the Special Climate Event convened by United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, along with the president of Brazil, the host of COP30, Sharif said, "Loans over loans, [and] adding to loans is not a solution." He called on developed countries to honour their pledges for the sake of future generations. According to Dawn, the
prime minister reminded delegates that Pakistan was still reeling from the devastation of the 2022 floods, which inflicted losses exceeding $30 billion, displaced millions and left behind lasting scars. He noted that this year's monsoon season had already "impacted more than five million people, destroyed 4,100 villages, and claimed over 1,000 precious lives."
Highlighting Pakistan's negligible role in global emissions, he said, "Despite a negligible contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, we bear impacts far beyond our share." The premier reaffirmed Islamabad's "steadfast and unwavering" commitment to its climate agenda.
Indian among 7 Buddhist monks killed in Sri Lanka monastery cable cart accident
Seven Buddhist monks, including an Indian national, were killed and six others were injured after a cable-operated rail cart overturned at a forest monastery in northwestern Sri Lanka, police said on Thursday.
The incident occurred on Wednesday night at the Na Uyana Aranya Senasanaya, a renowned Buddhist monastery located in Nikaweratiya, about 125 km from Colombo. The monastery is known for its meditation retreats and draws practitioners from around the world.
Among the seven deceased monks were an Indian, a Russian, and a Romanian national, police said.
Of the six injured, four are in critical condition, they said.
Punjab MLA convicted under SC/ST Act moves HC
A fortnight after Tarn Taran Additional Sessions Judge convicted AAP MLA Manjinder Singh under the Indian Penal Code and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, he has approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the verdict. Among other things, he is also seeking suspension of the conviction and sentence during the pendency of his appeal.
Manjinder Singh was sentenced to four-year rigorous imprisonment, prompting him to file the appeal before the HC. In his plea, the MLA said he was a sitting legislator from a floodaffected constituency and argued that immediate suspension of his sentence was necessary to ensure uninterrupted “relief coordination and oversight of ongoing disaster-response measures”.
The plea, placed before Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya, contended that the trial court failed to properly appreciate certain glaring features of the prosecution’s case, which, according to the appeal, cast a “cloud over the truthfulness of the prosecution story” and resulted in a gross miscarriage of justice.
The application also stated that the appellant had already undergone more than seven-month imprisonment during the trial and that the appeal was unlikely to be heard in the near future, making suspension of the sentence crucial under the prevailing circumstances.
The Bench was told the prosecution case was based on allegations by a women. She alleged the appellant and others, while attending her cousin’s marriage, “allegedly outraged her modesty and thereafter assaulted her family”.
Chandigarh airport to remain closed for flight operations from Oct 26 to Nov 7
Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Chandigarh, will remain closed for flight operations from October 26 (1 am) to November 7 (11.59 pm).
“The airfield will remain closed for fixed wing
aircraft operation due to polymer modified emulsion work planned on the runway. Rotary wing aircraft will be cleared subject to prior clearance, as per IAF information subject to further Notam,” said officials.
The two-week closure is set to affect the passengers’ schedule in the peak festival season when the footfall at the airport is maximum.
More than 50 flights operate from the Chandigarh airport daily with a footfall of around 10,000 passengers. It operates direct flights to 21 destinations — 19 domestic locations and 2 international
‘Punjabi can never go against his country’: Diljit Dosanjh breaks silence on Sardaar Ji 3 row
At his recent concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh finally addressed the controversy surrounding his film Sardaar Ji 3 and his collaboration with Pakistani actor Hania Aamir. The film became a subject of national debate following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, after which Diljit was heavily criticised for working with a Pakistani artist. Speaking in Punjabi to a packed international audience, Diljit clarified the timeline, saying that Sardaar Ji 3 was filmed well before the Pahalgam incident.
receive the strictest punishment,” he said. The singer said he had many answers, but he chose silence, admitting that he had faced immense pressure and criticism, but chose not to respond in public
“When my film Sardaar Ji 3 was shot in February, the matches were being played. After that, the tragic Pahalgam terror attack happened. At that time, and even now, we have always prayed that the terrorists
“I have many answers, but I kept quiet, kept everything inside me. Whoever tells you anything, you shouldn’t take that poison inside you. I’ve learned that from life. There are a lot more things to say, but I don’t want to say them,” he told the crowd.
Diljit also criticided sections of the national media for portraying him as anti-national.
“The national media tried their best to label me anti-national. But Punjabis and the Sikh community could never go against the nation,” he said, drawing applause from the audience.
Punjab cabinet approves policy to claim charges for illegally occupied land
Punjab Council of ministers led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today gave its nod to bring in a new policy that will allow the government to claim charges for the illegally occupied land, meant for common roads and water courses/channels. A decision had been taken today to set up Price Fixation Committees headed by deputy commissioners in each district, for fixing the prices of these lands, which have been under illegal occupation of the colonisers. Finance Minister Harpal Cheema said that four times charges of whatever price is fixed by the committee will be charged from the coloniser. Amongst other decisions taken by the Cabinet are bringing an OTS scheme for
sheller owners whose interest and penalty have been waived-off, and they will just have to pay 50 per cent over and above the principal amount.
Another OTS scheme for 20,039 traders, who have defaulted in payments in all pre-GST laws, has also been approved.
India sends more skilled workers to the US than any other country. Trump’s visa hike has sparked panic
A wave of panic and confusion has spread through Indian communities and the global tech industry, following US President Donald Trump’s surprise order imposing a $100,000 fee for the H-1B visa, impacting the largest group of beneficiaries of the skilled-worker program.
The initial announcement on Friday ignited immediate and widespread confusion, culminating in chaotic scenes like the one aboard an Emirates flight from San Francisco to Dubai.
show the captain attempting to calm the nerves of worried passengers on board.
The plane was stuck on the tarmac for three hours as H-1B holders scrambled to understand if they would be able to re-enter the country.
Video of the incident verified by CNN appears to
“Due to the current circumstances, obviously they’re unprecedented for us here at Emirates,” he can be heard saying over the speaker of the plane as confused passengers check their phones. “We are aware that a number of passengers do not wish to travel with us. That’s perfectly fine.”
CNN has contacted Emirates for a response.
Masud Rana, who was on the flight and filmed the video, called the situation “complete chaos,” in an Instagram post, adding it created “panic among many – particularly Indian passengers – who even chose to leave the aircraft.”
There is a shift in Modi govt’s economic strategy. It comes with some risks
A major takeaway from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation on Sunday was a clear confirmation that the government had changed its economic policy focus to revive and sustain growth.
Of course, the primary reason for his address was to convey to the nation the likely impact of the decision of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council to bring down the number of main rates from four to two and thereby slash rates for over 450 goods and services. The so-called “Festival of Savings” that he believed the GST rate cut would usher in was the stated objective. But beneath that objective, a clear shift in the focus of his government’s economic policy was visible.
The post-Covid years saw the Modi government follow a two-pronged approach to reviving economic growth. At one level, the Union government embarked on a steady reduction in its fiscal deficit — from over 9.2 per cent of gross domestic product
(GDP) reached in 2020-21 to 4.77 per cent by 202425. At another level, the government sought to achieve that fiscal consolidation through a better expenditure mix — a squeeze on revenue expenditure even as its capital expenditure rose steadily during this period. The Union government’s revenue expenditure was sharply brought down from 15.5 per cent of GDP in 2020-21 to 10.9 per cent in 202425, even as its capital expenditure rose from 2.15 per cent to 3.18 per cent of GDP in the same period. Of course, revenue buoyancy was a big help, which contributed to the sharpest reduction in the Union government’s revenue deficit in recent decades — from 7.3 per cent of GDP in 2020-21 to 1.71 per cent in 2024-25. Thus, the government’s policy in the post-Covid years was to keep the fiscal deficit under check, rein in its revenue expenditure, and spend more on building infrastructure at a time when the private sector was not willing to invest.
Day after Leh violence, Wangchuk-led NGO loses FCRA licence over violations
A day after four persons were killed and nearly 100 injured in Leh during violent protests over the demand for statehood and the Sixth Schedule for Ladakh, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday cancelled the FCRA certificate of registration of the Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), an NGO run by Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk, for a series of violations while receiving funds for the organisation. According to an order of the Foreigners Division of the MHA, accessed by The Tribune, the Wangchukled SECMOL was granted registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act in 2010 to accept foreign contributions for undertaking a cultural and educational programme.
The ministry found irregularities following which it served a show-cause notice in August asking why its FCRA registration certificate should
not be cancelled. As per the notice, during 2021-22, Wangchuk deposited Rs 3.5 lakh into the FCRA account. However, SECMOL claimed to have actually deposited Rs 3,35,000 in the account. It described the amount as sale proceeds from an old bus procured in 2015 using FCRA funds.
The second violation pertained to receiving local funds of Rs 54,600 in the FCRA account. The NGO said it was inadvertently transferred into the FCRA account instead of the local account.
Self-styled ‘godman’ forced students to visit his quarters, harassed them with late-night texts: FIR
Female students of a management institute here were allegedly forced to visit its director, selfstyled godman Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati’s quarters late at night, subjected to intimidation and even received inappropriate text messages from him at odd hours, an FIR filed against him read.
The FIR was registered after the administration
of Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management (SRISIIM) lodged a complaint with a police alleging that during a virtual interaction with more than 30 female students, several of them revealed instances of sexual harassment, manipulation, and threats by Chaitanyananda, who was earlier known as Swami (Dr) Parthasarathy.
Voices of Kashmir's terror victims echo in Geneva; international call for accountability
Geneva [Switzerland]: At the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), an event titled "Victims of Terror", jointly organised by the Shivi Development Society (SDS) and the People's Cultural Centre (PECUC), was held to honour victims and survivors of terrorism. The gathering aimed to raise awareness about the human cost of terrorism, highlight Pakistan's role in supporting crossborder terror in Jammu and Kashmir, and advocate for enhanced rights and recognition for affected communities.
The event drew human rights activists, journalists, academicians, and NGO representatives, who were urged to step up efforts to combat terrorism in the region. Political and social activist Shenaz Ganai has said that her homeland of Jammu and Kashmir has been the victim of a sustained and deliberate campaign of terrorism for more than three decades, with Pakistan being the only architect of this violence. Ganai said that terrorism is not homegrown but is being exported from across the border. "The only architect of this
campaign is Pakistan, unfortunately," she said. Drawing a comparison between the two countries, Ganai said, "There is no conflict between unequals. India is a democracy where institutions function under law, whereas Pakistan is a military state which only sponsors and trains terrorists."
Ganai highlighted that ordinary men, women, children, pilgrims, and tourists are killed in Jammu and Kashmir, not by spontaneous rebels but by members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and The Resistance Front (TRF).
She further underlined that these organisations are not unknown actors but are already registered as terrorist groups by the United Nations, the United States, and India.
Hyderabad's 'Visa Balaji temple' in focus amid H1B visa fee hike concerns
Amid concerns over US President Donald Trump's proclamation imposing a $1,00,000 fee on H1B visas, a famous Balaji temple on the outskirts of Hyderabad is in focus.
Known as 'Visa Balaji temple', the shrine located in Chilkur has been popular for over two decades as many devotees believed that they would get a visa if they worship here. Vinay, a technology analyst
in a private company and an H1B aspirant, who visited the temple after not getting a visa this year, hoped for divine blessings. "We don't know who is going to be imposed the $1,00,000 [fees] and who is not going to be imposed that fee. We do not have
a clarity on that yet. We will only get to know at the next lottery. And the lottery is always a matter of luck. Whatever the stakes may be, I am here to believe in Balaji and I hope he guides me," he said. As per their belief, the devotees perform 11 or 108 'pradakshinas' (circumambulation) around the temple for their wish to be fulfilled.
"At that time, there was a boom of foreign travel – I am talking about 1990s. There were a lot of engineering colleges around here like the famous Chaitanya Bharati (Institute of Technology). The students used to come here and pray with 11 rounds, they got the visa and then they gave the name Visa Balaji," said CS Rangarajan, chief priest of the temple. Many devotees share stories of their visa dreams coming true after worshipping in this temple. "I got my H1B on September 19 and I had my interview on 18th. It was a normal interview. They asked me a single question and they told me my visa is approved. This was my H1B renewal. I came to Chilkur Balaji on 10th. Yeah, it's always been a lucky charm for me," said Sai Rowtik, a Game Developer.
ICC hearing: Surya told to refrain from making political statements, Pakistan players called on Friday
Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav was on Thursday told to refrain from making any comments that could be construed as political in nature by ICC match referee Richie Richardson during an official hearing of the global body on a complaint filed by Pakistan Cricket Board.
The hearing against Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf, on a complaint filed by the BCCI, will be held on Friday as the two are playing in their Asia Cup match against Sri Lanka on Thursday.
It is understood that the PCB had filed the complaint within the stipulated seven-day period after the September 14 game between India and Pakistan in which Suryakumar had refused to shake hands and then dedicated the victory to the Indian armed forces for carrying out Operation Sindoor in May. He had also expressed solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.
"Surya attended the ICC hearing today. He was accompanied by BCCI's COO and Cricket Operations Manager. Richardson explained
to him that he shouldn't be making any comments that could be seen as political in nature. The sanction can't be ascertained. Since it falls under Level 1, it could either be a warning or a financial penalty of 15 per cent deductions in match fees," a tournament source privy to the details told PTI on condition of anonymity.
Earlier, India had filed an official complaint with the ICC against Pakistan cricketers Rauf and Farhan for their provocative gestures during the two sides' Asia Cup Super 4s game here last Sunday.
It is reliably learnt that the BCCI filed the complaint against the duo on Wednesday and the ICC is in receipt of the e-mail. Rauf, Sahibzada gestures
During the September 21 match, Rauf had made gestures to depict the bringing down of a plane to mock India's military action after Indian supporters chanted “Kohli, Kohli” referring to the couple of match-winning sixes that the Indian legend hit off the pacer at MCG during a T20 World Cup game in 2022.
