Trudeau's statements on Indian interference may have spurred Sikh-Hindu clashes in Canada, critics say
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to go public with foreign interference claims against India lies in stark contrast with the way the United States handled similar allegations and could be at the root of violent clashes seen in recent days between Sikh and Hindu crowds in Brampton, Ont., and Surrey, B.C., say India experts.
Last year, Trudeau told Parliament that Indian government agents were part
of the plot to murder Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan Sikh shot down on June 18, 2023, in the parking lot of a British Columbia temple. Last month, the prime minister told the federal inquiry into foreign interference that he wasn’t looking to provoke a fight with the government of India, but that its agents are playing a role in widespread violence in Canada, including killings, something India has denied.
Continued on Page 7...
Violent clashes at Hindu temple in Brampton lead to 3 arrests, 1 cop suspended
Three people were arrested and a police officer was suspended following a chaotic and violent scene that erupted Sunday as Indian consular officials visited a Hindu temple in Brampton. Videos circulating on social media appear to show demonstrators holding banners in support of a separate Sikh country called Khalistan clashing with others, including some holding India’s national flag. The videos seem
to show fist fights and people striking each other with poles in what appears to be the grounds surrounding the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple.
The group Sikhs for Justice said Khalistan supporters had been protesting the presence of Indian consulate officials undertaking an announced visit to provide administrative services such as helping seniors access pensions.
Continued on Page 10...
Pakistani man denied Canadian status over 2 wives gets another chance
A Pakistani man denied permanent resident status in Canada after an immigration officer discovered he had two wives has won another kick at the can, courtesy of the Federal Court.
It’s not that the court condoned polygamy, but it found that the man’s case was complicated and an immigration officer was being “unreasonable” when they failed to try and understand the circumstances that lead to the man being married to two women at once, for a time. Continued on Page 6...
BC immigration consultant ordered to pay former clients $68K in restitution
A BC immigration consultant’s license has been revoked permanently for “multiple instances of dishonesty and fabricating fraudulent documents,”
“advising clients to continue working under exploitative conditions” on three occasions.
Continued on Page 6...
What Trump 2.0 means for trade, migrants, wars in West Asia, Ukraine
A Donald Trump presidential election victory is going to have huge implications for US trade policy, climate change, the war in Ukraine, electric vehicles, Americans’ taxes and illegal immigration. While some of his proposals will require congressional approval, here is a summary of the policies he has said he would pursue while in office.
More tariffs
Trump has floated the idea of a 10% or more tariff on all goods imported into
the US, a move he says would eliminate the trade deficit. But critics say it would lead to higher prices for American consumers.
He has also said he should have the authority to set higher tariffs on countries that have put tariffs on US imports.
Mass deportations
Trump has vowed to reinstate his first-term policies targeting illegal border crossings and to forge ahead with sweeping new restrictions.
Continued on Page 7...
Hit-and-run driver who hurt 2 BC police officers handed 5-year prison sentence
A man who left two B.C. police officers with life-altering injuries almost six years ago has been handed a five-year prison sentence.
Jason Kirupakaran, 35, was convicted of two counts each of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and failing to stop after an accident causing bodily harm in January.
The collision happened on March 4, 2019 when Kirupakaran struck an Abbotsford police officer and a member of the Lower Mainland Integrated Police Dog Service on North Fraser Way in South Burnaby.
The officers were in a vehicle stopped on the side of the road when they were hit by a stolen vehicle.
On Thursday, Burnaby RCMP said
Human remains found near Massey Tunnel linked to Surrey woman’s death: IHIT
Homicide investigators have identified remains found in the Fraser River in Richmond, B.C., as those of a Surrey woman who was reported missing in February.
Kirupakaran was handed a four-year sentence on the criminal negligence charges, along with a year sentence for fleeing the scene. He was also handed a seven-year driving ban and a DNA order. Mon-Fri - 12:00 - 9:30
Navdeep Kaur, 28, was last seen at around 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 22 in the 7800 block of Surrey, according to Surrey RCMP.
In a statement at the time, police said that family was concerned for her health and well-being, and it was out of character for her not to contact them. On July 23, Richmond RCMP said they had found human remains in the Fraser River, in an industrial area at the end of Williams
Street, and were working with the coroners' service to identify them. In a statement, police on Wednesday said the remains were identified as Kaur's, and homicide investigators are now on the case.
"We are releasing an update with the hope that someone who knows something about Ms. Kaur's disappearance and homicide may come forward," said Cpl. Sukhi Dhesi in a statement. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is asking anyone with information to contact them at 1-877-551-4448 or via email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Bajrang Dal protests against Canadian govt
Bajrang Dal Hindustan activists gathered at Shaheed Chowk in Abohar on friday to express their outrage over recent attacks on Hindu temples in Canada and what they called the Canadian Prime Minister’s anti-Hindu stance. The protesters shouted slogans against Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and burnt the Canadian and an effigy representing the Canadian government.
A Bajrang Dal leader, Kuldeep Soni, condemned the violent actions on the Hindu Sabha temple in Canada. He criticised the violence and also praised the devotees who defended their temple. Soni said foreign forces were attempting to create divisions between Hindus and Sikhs in India and abroad, adding that such efforts would not be tolerated. He said any attacks on Hinduism would be met with a strong response and asserted Hindu society had “woken up.” Soni also urged
Hindus in Canada to refrain from voting for Trudeau’s party in the next elections.
Another official, Rahul Bhardwaj, criticised the Canadian government for its perceived anti-Hindu attitude, which he said had hurt the sentiments of Hindus worldwide and could damage India-Canada relations.
The activists also condemned the vandalism of Hindu temples in Edmonton, Alberta, among other locations in Canada, where hateful anti-India graffiti was sprayed on temple walls. They said they were disappointed in the Canadian government as they had failed to take appropriate action against those responsible for the attacks.
The protestors ended their demonstration by calling for stronger protection of Hindu temples and a balanced approach from the Canadian government towards the Hindu community.
'Samosa Caucus': Indian-American lawmakers in the US Congress
With a handful of Indian-Americans either eyeing a seat in the US Congress or seeking reelection, there are hopes that the 'Samosa Caucus' may grow in numbers over the coming few months. 'Samosa Caucus' is a nickname given to a group of Indian-American lawmakers in the US Congress. It refers to the growing number of Indian-American legislators who are of South Asian descent, particularly those of Indian origin.
The name is a playful nod to the popular Indian
snack 'samosa'. The term was coined around 2018 by Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois, to celebrate the growing influence of Indian-Americans in US politics. The Caucus includes members from both the House of Representatives and the Senate who have roots in India or South Asia and who often work together on issues relevant to the IndianAmerican community, as well as broader issues of interest to South Asian constituents in the US.
Dalip Singh Saund was the first IndianAmerican elected to the US Congress and served from 1957 to 1963. He represented California in the House of Representatives as a Democrat.
Canada blocked Australian media outlet for reporting Jaishankar’s press meet: India
India on Thursday said Canada blocked an Australian media outlet hours after it broadcast the press conference of External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and his Australian counterpart Penny Wong.
External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said the Canadian action of blocking the social media handles and certain pages of Australia Today smacked of hypocrisy towards freedom of speech.
"We understand that the social media handles, pages of this particular outlet, which are important diaspora outlets, have been blocked and are not available for viewers in Canada. This happened just an hour or a few hours after this particular handle carried the press conference of EAM Dr S Jaishankar with Penny Wong," Jaiswal said in response to a question at the weekly media briefing.
"We were surprised. It looks strange to us. But nonetheless, what I say is that these are
actions which yet again highlight the hypocrisy of Canada towards freedom of speech," the external affairs ministry spokesman said.
He said Jaishankar, in his media interactions in Australia, had spoken about the allegations levelled against India by Canada without sharing any specific evidence. "You would have seen that the External Affairs Minister, in his media engagements, spoke about three things. One was Canada making allegations and a pattern that has developed without any specific evidence," he said.
India's Modi, Canada's Trudeau condemn violence at Hindu temple near Toronto
The prime ministers of India and Canada condemned violence that broke out on Sunday at a Hindu temple near Toronto at a time of escalating diplomatic tensions between the countries. Videos posted on social media appeared to show people hitting each other with flagpoles and throwing punches in the Toronto suburb of Brampton. It was unclear who instigated the violence and Reuters could not independently verify what happened.
The incident happened weeks after Ottawa expelled six Indian diplomats, linking them to the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in 2023 in Canada. Canada has accused the Indian government of conducting a broad campaign against South Asian dissidents in Canada, which New Delhi denies.
Police said there were demonstrations at multiple locations in the region. Sikh activists said one demonstration was at a Hindu temple where pro-Khalistan activists protested the presence of Indian diplomats and another was
at a Sikh temple. Khalistan refers to a Sikh homeland activists want carved out of India's Punjab state.
The local Peel Police said three men faced criminal charges over Sunday's protest. A 43-year-old man is charged with causing a disturbance and assaulting a peace officer, a 23-year-old man is charged with assault with a weapon and a 31-year-old man is charged with mischief.
Police said they are aware of video of an off-duty police officer participating in a demonstration. The officer has been suspended, they said. Police are investigating.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a strongly worded statement on X on Monday.
"I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. Equally appalling are the cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats," Modi said.
"Such acts of violence will never weaken India’s resolve. We expect the Canadian
government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law," he said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Sunday the "acts of violence" were unacceptable.
India has accused Trudeau of pursuing a political agenda in their dispute and responded to Ottawa's expulsion of its diplomats by expelling six Canadian diplomats.
The North America-based activist group Sikhs for Justice said on Sunday that "pro-Khalistan Sikhs who were peacefully demonstrating ... were violently attacked by a group of Indo Canadians."
Indian media reported that an Indian consular camp at the venue was targeted in the violence. The foreign ministry in New Delhi said the violence was perpetrated by "extremists and separatists."
The ministry said it remained "deeply concerned about the safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada."
What the federal ban on TikTok's Canadian operations means for you
The federal government ordered an end to TikTok's Canadian operations on Wednesday, citing national security concerns. But its decision to keep the app itself available has privacy experts puzzled.
Ab seedhe ghar
Calgary Delhi
New direct flights daily from Calgary to Delhi.
The distance between you and your loved ones has shortened. You’ll be home sooner to relive moments you wished for. To make this experience even better, Air Canada offers new flights from Calgary to Delhi via London Heathrow with personalized services tailored just for you.
Choose from three classes of service, including Air Canada Signature Class with fully lie-flat seats, Premium Economy Class, and Economy Class. To make your journey even more special, avail the service of our Hindi and Punjabi-speaking flight attendants on select flights, and enjoy Indian meals as well as a selection of Bollywood movies and music.
Book now at aircanada.com or contact your travel agent.
The order to shut down the social media platform's Vancouver and Toronto offices came after a months-long national security review of the app.
The federal government banned TikTok from government devices in February 2023.
For most Canadians, the decision to end the social media platform's operations in the country will go largely unnoticed.
Innovation Minister FrançoisPhilippe Champagne said those directly affected by the decision are TikTok employees, most of whom aren't Canadian citizens.
With the social media platform's Canadian operations ending, those workers will be required to leave the country, depending on their status. A spokesperson for TikTok said in an email Wednesday that the company plans to take legal action.
"Shutting down TikTok's Canadian offices and destroying hundreds of well-paying local jobs is not in anyone's best interest, and today's shutdown order will do just that," the company said. "We will challenge this order in court."
Champagne told CBC News that Canadians will have to "draw their own conclusions" about TikTok, but as with any social media app, they should be mindful of their use.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has warned Canadians against using TikTok.
Former CSIS director David Vigneault told CBC in an interview it's "very clear" from the app's design that data gleaned from its users "is available to the government of China."
The main security concern about TikTok, Mai said, lies in the fact that the company that owns it — ByteDance — is subject to the Chinese government.
He said the worry is that ByteDance could be forced by Beijing to turn over user data to the Chinese government, and "we'd never know until it's too late."
"There is no public evidence yet of any harm" for Canadian TikTok users, Mai said. "That doesn't mean that there has been no harm. It just means that we haven't seen it yet."
Ph: 604-591-5423
Fax: 604-591-8615
editor@theasianstar.com
Editor: Umendra Singh
Associate Editor: Harvinder Sandhu
Marketing and Sales: Ravi Cheema 604-715-3847
Shamir Doshi 604-649-7827
Harminder Kaur 778-708-0481
Parminder Dhillon 604-902-2858
Pre-Press: Avee Waseer
Production: Ozmo Media www.theasianstar.com
Publication Mail Agreement No 428336012
Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept. # 202 - 8388, 128 St., Surrey, BC V3W 4G2
Trump’s victory seen through India’s eyes
Republican party candidate Donald Trump’s decisive victory over Democrat Kamala Harris in the November 5 US Presidential election looks remarkably like Narendra Modi’s sweeping victories in the 2014 and 2019 parliamentary elections in India. Both Trump and Modi won against candidates or parties which were clueless about the mood and aspirations of the people at the grassroots level, while they were clued into them.
In the US, the earlier Democratic candidate, Joe Biden, was aged and infirm. His midstream replacement, Kamala Harris, was younger and fit. She also performed creditably in the debate with Trump. But her campaign lacked clear messages to the voters about her plan to tackle America’s problems, other than Trump’s fascistic predilections.
But fighting fascism was an issue only among a section of the elite, the Left liberals, not the hoi polloi. The common man whether White, Latino, Brown or Black, was facing real life issues like unemployment and illegal immigration.
On these, Harris did not have a clear or original line. In foreign policy, there was no indication that the US under Harris would not bumble as it had been bumbling under Biden.
In the case of the Indian leader in 2014, Narendra Modi, he was a beacon of hope for the youth wanting India to come out the psychological rut that it had got into under the 10-year rule of the Congress party. Modi came on to the scene as a gust of fresh air. Though subsequently, his economic performance only enriched the rich, he whipped up Hindu nationalism especially after a terror act just before the 2019 elections. He reaped a good harvest of votes as a result.
In the 2024 elections Modi was mauled, but not eliminated as he was able to remain in power with the help of two allies. In the 2024 elections, the Congress had exploited some of the grievances of the people, but it had not cultivated the Hindu constituency, the biggest in the country. The Congress’ support base was widespread but it had no large core constituency.
In the US, Trump had popular issues to exploit other than the broader issue of the Biden Administration’s lacklustre performance both at home and abroad. Biden’s effort to restore peace in the Middle East was insincere and ineffective.
India halts some consular visits amid Sikh-Hindu clashes
India’s consulate in Toronto is suspending some of its diplomatic visits to process paperwork at places like religious temples after violence between Sikh and Hindu people.
The violence started Sunday outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton, Ont., where police allege people in the crowd were carrying weapons and throwing objects.
The next day there were tense protests outside the temple, leading to another police intervention and calls to ban protests at Brampton religious sites. The clashes have involved Hindu groups clashing with Sikh separatists, who have protested visits by Indian consular officials to process paperwork for matters such as pensions.
The violence has further heightened tensions between Ottawa and New Delhi after Canada expelled six Indian diplomats last month when the RCMP flagged them as persons of interest in
alleged crimes against Canadians.
India’s Toronto consulate says it’s suspending some of its announced site visits, but did not specify which ones have been cancelled.
“In view of the security agencies conveying their inability to provide minimum security protection to the community-camp organizers, (the Toronto) consulate has decided to cancel some of the scheduled consular camps,” the consulate said in a post on X. The consulate’s website lists planned visits in places like Brampton, Mississauga, Halifax, Windsor and London, Ont. India’s high commission in Canada did not immediately respond when asked if its Ottawa mission or Vancouver consulate had also suspended consular visits. Officials in those missions have announced what they call “consular camps” across the Prairies this weekend, as well as in Montreal and parts of British Columbia later
this month.
Sikh separatists, who advocate for an independent country called Khalistan to be carved out of India, have alleged Indian diplomats use their temple visits to recruit informants to target Khalistan supporters.
While the Canadian government has refused to identify the diplomats it expelled, the federal government does maintain a database of diplomats who are accredited to Canada. That database was updated a week after the expulsions were announced on Oct. 14, and six names that were previously on the list had been removed.
That includes High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and Toronto consul general Siddhartha Nath. The websites of each Indian mission now list interim replacements for both positions. The database also previously included Bikram Pal Singh Bhatty, a first secretary at the
Continued from Page 1...
Even though there were other options available, threatening three clients with “immigration consequences if they persisted in raising concerns about working conditions,” and failing twice to refund fees for work that wasn’t completed.
The Discipline Committee of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants has ordered Raghbir Singh Bharowal to pay two of his former clients a total of $68,875 in restitution and work out with another consultant how much a third is owed. It also fined him $50,000 and ordered Bharowal to pay $63,790 to cover the regulator’s costs for legal expenses, investigation and hearing fees.
“In a case where a member has breached the
Continued from Page 1...
Qadeer Ahmed’s wife, Jameela Qadeer, who is also from Pakistan, was found to be a refugee in Canada. She included him in her application for permanent residence.
“However, a visa officer found that Mr. Ahmed did not meet the requirements for immigration to Canada, as the officer was not satisfied that his marriage to Ms. Qadeer was valid,” Justice Angus Grant said in a recent decision.
“This was primarily because Mr. Ahmed was also legally married to another woman in South Africa, where he has resided for many years.”
The same officer “also found that the couple were not in a common-law or conjugal relationship, and as such, (Ahmed) could not be considered a family member of his spouse in Canada,” Grant wrote in a decision dated Oct. 30. “In rejecting the application, the officer also considered humanitarian and compassionate
Ottawa high commission, as well as Toronto consular officer
Vancouver
officer Rahul Negi and a Vancouver consular employee named Kanwaljit Singh. Global Affairs Canada would not confirm whether those were the names of the six diplomats who were expelled.
“We are not in a position to provide the names of the six Indian diplomats that are now considered persona non grata. We can confirm that they have left Canada,” wrote spokeswoman Clémence Grevey.
(college’s code of professional ethics) for matters of competence, mistake or even momentary lapse of judgement, there may be hope for rehabilitation,” said a recent decision from the three-person disciplinary committee panel.
“But in this case, the matter goes beyond the competence of the licensee. (Bharowal’s) conduct speaks to his character. It is unbecoming for a licensee to threaten his clients with immigration consequences for raising concerns about exploitive working conditions. It is unbecoming to fail to give clients alternative options in the face of such exploitation. This conduct suggests Mr. Bharowal was perhaps conflicted by his relationship with their employer and apparently did not give due priority to the interests of his clients.”
factors, but concluded that (Ahmed’s) situation did not warrant an exemption from the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.”
The facts of Ahmed’s case are “somewhat unusual,” Grant said in his judicial review of that decision.
“The applicant — Qadeer Ahmed — is a citizen of Pakistan and a resident of South Africa. He is an Ahmadi Muslim, and fled Pakistan for South Africa in 2003 due to the well-documented persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan,” said the judge. The two married in a civil ceremony twenty years ago and Ahmed “cancelled his asylum permit and instead applied for and received a spousal permit,” said the judge’s decision.
“According to (Ahmed), this relationship ended shortly after it began, in February 2005.”
But he kept living in South Africa on the spousal permit, and didn’t file for divorce until January of 2022.
Dheeraj Pareek,
consular
Union says talks to resume as bitter B.C. port work stoppage drags on
The union representing more than 700 locked out British Columbia port workers says talks are set to resume with employers.
A representative for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 says they have been ordered back to the table with the BC Maritime Employers Association and federal mediators Saturday afternoon.
Sources told Global News federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon ordered the two sides back to the bargaining table under S. 105 of the Federal Labour Code, which also empowers a federal mediator to make recommendations on a possible settlement.
Earlier Thursday, MacKinnon criticized the lack of progress in disputes disrupting Canada’s two biggest ports, saying there’s a “concerning lack of urgency” in resolving the British Columbia and
Montreal stoppages.
It came as the union said it had filed a complaint against the employers, accusing them of “bargaining in bad faith, making threats, intimidation, coercion and interference with the administration of a union.”
Frank Morena, president of International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514, said in a statement that they filed the complaint with the Canada Industrial Relations Board, accusing the BC Maritime Employers Association of favouring confrontation rather than negotiation as an end to the dispute. “Once again, the BCMEA is doing everything it can to push the federal government into intervening instead of doing its job to bargain a new contract — it’s offensive and we expect our complaints to be upheld,” Morena said.
Kelowna offering direct flights to Los Angeles
Alaska Airlines and the Kelowna International Airport are now providing direct service from Kelowna to Los Angeles starting Dec. 19.
The route will operate daily with one flight leaving YLW at 10:36 a.m. and arriving back at 5:42 p.m., except Jan. 9 to Feb. 12.
Director of Commercial and Air Service at Kelowna International Airport Geoff Richie said. “It has been over a decade since we had direct service to LAX, so we are thrilled Alaska Airlines is bringing back this integral route for the Okanagan community.”
Trudeau's statements on Indian interference may have spurred clashes in Canada, critics say
Continued from Page 1...
“I can’t see how it’s helped,” said Sanjay Ruparelia, an associate professor of political science at Toronto Metropolitan University.
“It’s a really grave and serious accusation. There has to be an investigation. It has to be completed … But I think the fact that senior political leaders have gotten involved makes it harder to find a resolution, certainly publicly.”
Diplomatic relations between Canada and India “are in the deep freeze,” Ruparelia said. “I imagine there are back-channel discussions going on at the highest level to the extent that that’s possible. But publicly, there’s a standoff and an impasse between the two governments.”
In recent days the diplomatic dispute between Canada and India has escalated, due to clashes between groups in the Indian diaspora. On Sunday, video footage showed clashes at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton. On Monday night, hundreds of protesters marched near the
temple, before being dispersed by police, who said weapons had been observed. Three people have been arrested in connection with Sunday’s violence, Peel Regional Police have said.
Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, said Sunday’s fighting was a “cowardly” attempt to intimidate Indian consular officials, who were visiting the temple.
“I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada,” he wrote on X.
Beyond the protests on the streets, including in British Columbia where three were arrested at the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir temple in Surrey, the diplomatic crisis continues to escalate.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have said they have evidence linking Indian government officials to crimes in Canada, and in the United States, law enforcement has made similar allegations about a foiled assassination attempt on U.S. soil.
What Trump 2.0 means for trade, migrants, wars in West Asia, Ukraine
Continued from Page 1...
He has pledged to limit access to asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border and to embark on the biggest deportation effort in American history, which would likely trigger legal challenges and opposition from Democrats in Congress.
A push to end wars
Trump has been critical of US support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, and has said he could end the war in 24 hours if elected — although he has not said how he would achieve this. He has suggested Ukraine may have to yield some of its territory if a peace deal is to be struck, an idea Ukraine has consistently rejected.
He has backed Israel in its fight against Hamas in Gaza but has urged it to wrap up its offensive.
Trump can be expected to continue the Biden administration’s policy of arming Israel. No federal abortion ban
Trump appointed three justices to the US Supreme Court who were part of the majority that did away with Roe v Wade’s constitutional protection for abortion. He likely would continue to appoint federal judges who would uphold abortion limits.
Investigating ‘enemies’
Trump has pledged to use law enforcement agencies to investigate his political foes, including poll officials, lawyers and party donors.
Along that line, he has said he will consider appointing a special prosecutor to probe Biden.
Canada orders TikTok's Canadian business to be dissolved but won't block app
Canada announced Wednesday it is ordering the dissolution of TikTok's Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media app but said it won't block access.
Industry Minister FrançoisPhilippe Champagne said it is meant to address risks related to ByteDance Ltd.'s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
“The government is not blocking Canadians' access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content. The decision to use a social media application or platform is a personal choice," Champagne said. Champagne said it is important for Canadians to adopt good cybersecurity practices, including protecting their personal information. He said the dissolution order was made in accordance with the Investment Canada Act, which allows for the review
of foreign investments that may harm Canada's national security. TikTok Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment. TikTok is wildly popular with young people, but its Chinese ownership has raised fears that Beijing could use it to collect data on Western users or push pro-China narratives and misinformation. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company that moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2020. TikTok faces intensifying scrutiny from Europe and America over security and data privacy. It comes as China and the West are locked in a wider tug of war over technology ranging from spy balloons to computer chips.
Canada previously banned TikTok from all government-issued mobile devices, reflecting widening worries from Western officials over the video sharing app.
City of Trail mourns mother after estranged husband charged with murder
A small community of about 8,000 people is mourning the loss of a beloved local nurse, whose estranged husband has been charged with her Monday death, which occurred just east of Trail, B.C.
RCMP say Lindsay Danchella, also known as Lindsay Batts, suffered fatal injuries after being assaulted on the front lawn of a Montrose residence, and died in hospital later in the day.
One of her close friends says it was the home of Danchella's estranged husband, and that she had been there to hand over their two-year-old son as part of their custody arrangement.
The ex-husband in question, 46-year-old Donald James Danchella, was arrested by RCMP at the scene and has since been charged with second-degree murder.
The charge has not been proven in court. The 46-year-old is scheduled to appear next on Nov. 18. Heather Wiley, who was a good friend of the victim, alleges the 44-year-old had been abused by her estranged husband.
Wiley, who has lived in Trail her whole life, said her family offered Danchella a place to stay after she left her husband and went into transitional housing.
Copper wires stolen in Abbotsford cut 911 service, internet to 2 neighbourhoods
Some Abbotsford residents are without phone and internet service on Thursday due to two cable thefts.
The first theft happened at 5:11 a.m. on Thursday when Telus and Rogers cable lines were cut in the 33500 block of Huntingdon Road, Abbotsford police said.
They confirmed crews were on site and fixing the lines and Rogers cables were fixed early afternoon.
The second theft happened at 6 a.m. in the 4500 block of Sumas Mountain Road, about a 20-minute drive away.
Abbotsford police said a large amount of Telus cables were cut in this area leaving people without telephone and internet service and costing about $100,000 to fix.
It is not clear if the two incidents are connected but Abbotsford police are investigating. Sgt. Paul Walker with the Abbotsford Police Department told Global News they started to receive reports of wire thefts in the city in October.
“We’re probably up to 12 incidents in our community alone,” he said. “It’s significant. These thefts, these damages to infrastructure… are things that impact 911 service, public safety, phone calls from residents to reach out to loved ones, home-based businesses. “These fixes aren’t putting two wires back together. They take a significant amount of time, wires have to be spliced together.”
Walker said these thefts can cause outages for days for surrounding residents.
Matthew
Perry's Home, Where He Died, Sold To Indian-Origin Property Developer; New Owner Performs Hindu Pooja
Matthew Perry's Pacific Palisades home, where the beloved Friends actor was found dead last year, has found a new owner. The property has been purchased by Anita Verma-Lallian, a real estate developer and film producer with Indian roots, in an off-market deal for $8.55 million (approximately ₹72.04 crore). The timing of the purchase coincided with Diwali, and Verma-Lallian honored Perry’s life by performing a Hindu puja at the house, which she shared on her Instagram. Sitting by the pool, where Perry tragically passed, Verma-Lallian marked the occasion with a traditional ceremony led by a priest. In her post, she expressed an instant connection to the property, writing, “The moment I walked into the home, I absolutely fell
in love with the features, especially the view of the Pacific Ocean. We knew it was ‘the one’ and decided to write an offer on it immediately.” She shared that she plans to retain some of Perry’s unique touches, notably the Batman logo in the pool, and to add personal elements to create her ideal vacation retreat. The 3,500-square-foot property is set on a half-acre plot in the Pacific Palisades hills, offering panoramic views of the ocean. It boasts four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, and an open-concept design with glass walls that slide away, creating seamless indooroutdoor flow. Key features include a pool, hot tub, fire pit, multiple patios, and a built-in wine wall, all surrounded by minimalist white-andgray decor.
Harjit Sajjan denies special treatment for Afghan Sikhs during Kabul evacuation in 2021
Former defence minister Harjit Sajjan acknowledged the head of a Canadian Sikh charity called him directly to ask for special forces to rescue a group of Afghan Sikhs after the Taliban takeover in August, 2021.
But Mr. Sajjan, now Emergency Preparedness Minister, told a parliamentary committee Tuesday he did not give the Afghan Sikhs special treatment. He said he acted out of humanitarian concern when Tarjinder Bhullar, director of the Calgary-based Manmeet Singh Bhullar Foundation, called his personal phone number.
sources say, affected the rescue of Canadians and former Afghan interpreters on Canada’s priority list. The Globe did not identify the sources because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.
“Basically anyone who had my number was calling me at that time and just like with any information that was provided to me, I had the responsibility to forward the information,”
Mr. Sajjan told the national defence committee. “Imagine if I had received information and not pushed it forward.”
Mr. Sajjan was called to testify at the request of the Bloc Québécois after The Globe reported in June that he instructed the military to rescue about 225 Afghan Sikhs. Mr. Sajjan acknowledged in June that he directed Canadian Special Forces to evacuate the group but insisted it was not an order. He also confirmed he relayed information and other details about the Sikhs to the military as elite soldiers worked to meet up with the group near Kabul’s international airport.
The rescue mission failed when the Afghan Sikhs became frightened and left the rendezvous point before Canadian Special Forces arrived. The group later managed to get to India and many of them have since come to Canada.
Three military sources who were in Ottawa and on the ground in Kabul told The Globe that the Afghan Sikhs were not considered an operational priority because they had no link to Canada. Mr. Sajjan’s intervention, the military
At the committee Tuesday, Mr. Sajjan said his directive was in line with government policy to help vulnerable groups on the ground in Afghanistan, including Afghans of the Sikh faith.
“Just because I have the same religion, that wasn’t the reason why I made certain decisions here,” he said. “I wish we could have got all vulnerable populations out.”
Before his appearance, the heads of the Bhullar Foundation, Khalsa Aid Canada and World Sikh Organization wrote a letter of support for Mr. Sajjan, expressing “concern that the inquiry is being politicized, unfairly targeting Minister Sajjan’s faith as a basis for questioning his actions.”
When Kabul fell to the Taliban, Canada and its allies scrambled to evacuate their citizens, along with Afghan interpreters who had worked for Canada. Ottawa did have a third priority list that included groups at risk of persecution, including feminists, human-rights defenders, journalists and religious minorities.
In June, General Wayne Eyre, who has since retired as chief of the defence staff, said the military was following “legal orders” from Mr. Sajjan when it made an effort to specifically help the group of Afghan Sikhs. He added that it’s not up to him to say “whether the government priority was right or wrong.” The Taliban’s swift takeover came in the early weeks of a federal election campaign. Sikh Canadians were viewed as a key voting bloc for the governing Liberals in several ridings in the Greater Toronto Area and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.
Violent clashes at Hindu temple in Brampton lead to 3 arrests, 1 cop suspended
Continued from Page 1...
In a release, India’s high commission said plans for further visits to temples would be contingent on security arrangements from local authorities to protect the safety of officials, organizers and attendees.
“It is deeply disappointing to see such disruptions being allowed for routine consular work being organized by our Consulates,” the embassy said in a statement posted to social media.
Peel Regional Police (PRP) have arrested the following three men in connection with the violent clashes:
- 43-year-old Dilpreet Singh Bouns of Mississauga was charged with causing a disturbance and assaulting a police officer.
- 23-year-old Vikas of from Brampton faces charges for assault with a weapon.
- 31-year-old Amritpal Singh of Mississauga was charged with mischeif over $5,000.
All three men will appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a later date.
Police said a fourth individual was arrested on an outstanding unrelated warrant and subsequently released.
“Every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely,” Trudeau wrote.
Call for a new, reformed RFMF
Great Council of Chiefs Chairman Ratu Viliame Seruvakula calls for a new and reformed Republic of Fiji’s Military Forces to regain public trust.
significant information from the Church, Vanua, and the government regarding the iTaukei.
While presenting the iTatau on behalf of the Vanua at the commemoration of the RFMF reconciliation and restoration program held yesterday, Ratu Viliame advised senior officers to set an example for the younger generation by demonstrating great leadership values.
“Since 1987, there has been uncertainty, and members of the public have lost faith in the RFMF,” he said.
“We have underestimated God and followed directives from individuals that led us astray, forgetting the sacrifices our ancestors had made. He said, wrong judgement and poor leadership had led to the pain and hurt that was evident today. “When I came into office, in my role as the Chair of the GCC, I received
Probe
“I have to say the way of life that we are leading now is unacceptable, and I am filled with sympathy for that.” Ratu Viliame said, moving forward, the trend needs to end. The RFMF must stop becoming involved in unnecessary situations such as coup and attempted mutiny etched in the history of Fiji.
“We hope that as of today everything in the past will be left in the past.
“It is my advice and plea to the senior officers: please, teach our brothers and sisters and the younger generation (of the RFMF) to think of the generation to come.
“And entrust them with leadership that is exceptional and wise, influenced by God.
“This is the plea of the Vanua so that the RFMF may gain the trust of the public. May everything that is bad of the RFMF end here, and its time to start afresh.”
The GCC chairman is a former RFMF Commanding Officer of the Third Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment (3FIR).
Malimali confirmed
Investigations into the controversy surrounding lawyer Barbara Malimali’s appointment as FICAC Commissioner has now been confirmed with the appointment of Supreme Court Judge David Ashton-Lewis as sole Commissioner.
He will be assisted by senior barrister Janet Mason.
A government statement stated the commission’s terms of reference would also consider whether the process and appointment of Ms Malimali was unlawfully or improperly influenced by vested interests.
Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has been granted early release as of today, in accordance with Section 46 (3) of the Corrections Act.
Bainimarama was sentenced to 1 year imprisonment in May this year after being found guilty of one count of attempt to pervert the course of justice in the University of the South Pacific case.
The Fiji Corrections Service says the release decision follows a comprehensive review of Bainimarama’s application, which was processed in line with the relevant legal provisions governing early release and supervised reintegration.
that ensure both the security of the community and the facilitation of an inmates reintegration.
The Corrections Service says all requirements were rigorously assessed, including eligibility criteria, conditions for release, and supervisory measures in place, in accordance with the guidelines established under their regulations.
They say Bainimarama’s reintegration is to ensure compliance with all conditions associated with his early release.
No shortage of funds for Health Ministry – Prof.
There is no shortage of funds for the Ministry of Health to ensure that all the services and equipment are available in the hospitals.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad highlighted this to the media when questioned on the radiology and pharmacy services closing at 4.30pm daily at the CWM Hospital after a circular from the Ministry of Civil Service on no overtime to be paid for those under salary scale Band F and above.
Professor Prasad says that is something that the Ministry of Health must sort out with the Ministry of Civil Service, and he does not think it is a difficult issue. When questioned about not paying overtime so staff should take Time-off-in-Lieu, he says it is not a question of
Prasad
funding not being available, so he expects them to sort that out.
The Ministry of Health says if there is an emergency, patients will get sent to offsite private facilities for radiology services. Prof. Prasad says the Ministry of Health should sort this out with the Ministry of Civil Service. He says they expect the Ministry of Health to ensure that the resources are there and if there are processes and procedures, then that is something that the Ministry of Health should work out with the Ministry of Civil Service. Prof. Prasad say they do not expect difficulty in terms of the funding that is available, because the Ministry of Health has always had, at least in the last two budgets, more than adequate funding to ensure that all these services are provided on time.
Section 46 (3) of the Corrections Act allows for early release of inmates based on specific criteria
School managers are seen only as “grass cutters”, demonised as “crooks” and left with no say in the very institutions they helped build.
School Management Association of Fiji president Govind Singh said this as he vented the collective frustration of members at the association’s biennial conference in Nausori yesterday. He shared that managers were no longer empowered to make decisions or included in spaces where their voices could be heard.
He said the “stepmotherly” treatment meted out to school management committees was unprecedented, and such incidents had further alienated school managers from their communities. Mr Singh said under the previous Government’s rule, the managements were
They add this decision reflects the commitment of the Corrections Service to uphold the principles of justice, rehabilitation, and reintegration, as stipulated by the Corrections Act.
demonised as people who were corrupt, and allegations were made that managements abused funding, so they could not be trusted. And he said despite the change in government, they continued to be ignored.
“Over the period of more than a decade, we haven’t built a single classroom on our own accord,” he said. “We believe that our school heads must continue to professionalise themselves, which will in turn return dividends to our schools. When it comes to us attending conferences, we are thought that, ‘you should probably be cutting grass in the school’.
“But when it comes to developing the strategic plan, then you invite the manager to develop the strategic plan, but you haven’t empowered the manager.
Berlin gives 20 mn euros to Pak for forest management
Germany will provide 20 million euros to Pakistan for the second phase of a project aimed at the protection and sustainable management of forests in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to a media report on Sunday.
An agreement for financial support for the ‘Billion Tree Afforestation Support Project’ (BTASP) was signed in Islamabad on Saturday between Pakistan Economic Affairs Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz and Director of German Development Bank KfW, Esther Gravenkotter. The first phase of BTASP is already under
implementation in partnership with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department, the Dawn newspaper reported. It will support the protection and sustainable management of forests in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The project will focus on new plantations on 10,000 hectares, capacity building of forest departments, and developing a management information system. The project will support nature-based livelihood generation geared to alleviate poverty.
Lahore air quality dips to record low, forces closure of schools
Unprecedented air pollution levels in Pakistan’s second-largest city of Lahore prompted authorities to take emergency measures on Sunday, including issuing workfrom-home mandates and closing primary schools.
The city held the top spot on a real-time list of the world’s most polluted cities on Sunday after recording its highest-ever pollution reading of 1,900 near the Pakistan-India border on Saturday, based on data released by the provincial government and Swiss group IQAir. The government has shut primary schools for a week, advising parents to ensure children wear masks, said Senior Minister of Punjab Marriyum Aurangzeb during a press conference, as a thick blanket of smog enveloped the city.
Citizens have been urged to stay indoors, keep doors and windows shut, and avoid unnecessary travel, she said, adding that hospitals had been given smog counters.
To reduce vehicle pollution, 50 per cent of office employees would work from home, said Aurangzeb. The government has also imposed a ban on three-wheelers known as rickshaws and halted construction in certain areas to reduce the pollution levels. Factories and construction sites failing to comply with these regulations could be shut down, she said.
Aurangzeb described the situation as “unexpected” and attributed the deterioration in air quality to winds carrying pollution from neighbouring India.
“This cannot be solved without talks with India,” she said, adding the provincial government would initiate talks with its bigger neighbour through Pakistan’s foreign ministry.
The smog crisis in Lahore, similar to the situation in India’s capital Delhi, tends to worsen during cooler months due to temperature inversion trapping pollution closer to the ground.
Pakistani Actress Sonya Hussyn Slammed For Celebrating Diwali And Wearing Bindi
Recently, Pakistani actress Sonya Hussyn was criticized for celebrating Diwali with her friends in the hostile neighboring country. As a result, she lost hundreds of followers on Instagram after sharing a video of the Diwali bash, and netizens also called her out for wearing a bindi.
On Saturday (2 November), Hussyn took to her Instagram to share glimpses of the Diwali party in which she is wearing a red abstract print saree with a matching bindi.
“Pakistan is a beautiful mosaic of cultures and beliefs, and we must celebrate our minorities as vital parts of this nation. As Muhammad Ali Jinnah said, ‘You are free, you are free to go to your temples… You may belong to any religion, caste, or creed – that has nothing to do with the business of the State,” she captioned her post.
“This quote reminds us that every community enriches our society. Let’s honor the rights and freedoms of all our citizens, ensuring that everyone feels at home in Pakistan. It’s their country too, and we embrace all cultures with open hearts
and together we can create a future filled with respect, unity, and love,” Hussyn added. As soon as Hussyn shared the video, Pakistani Muslims bombarded the comments section of her post with hate and negative comments. “Unfollowed… can’t stand this nonsense,” a person wrote, while another Instagram user commented, “I have NEVER seen a Hindu celebrity celebrating Muslim festivities like this. This is BS on another level, they all are looking like lost clowns! Unfollowed!” “This is shameful…Why are you wearing bindi?” a user asked while another called her a “wannabe.” A netizen also suggested that she must “go to India.”
Pak amends law to extend term of army chief by 2 yrs
Pakistan on Monday passed an amendment to a law that will extend the terms of the heads of the armed forces to five years from three, in a rowdy parliamentary session opposed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party.
Extending the term of commanders including Army Chief General Asim Munir would deal another blow to the embattled Khan and his party, which blames the military for his downfall. The measure from the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who leads a coalition of parties opposed to Khan that took power after an election in February, could be aimed at shoring up support from powerful military figures.
Punjab farmers condemn Centre’s move of doubling fines for stubble burning
Farmer bodies in Punjab on Thursday strongly condemned the Centre’s move of raising fines for stubble burning and asked why the government was not providing crop residue management machinery to them to check farm fires. The Centre has doubled the fine for farmers burning crop residue in view of the deteriorating air quality in the Delhi-NCR region, with the penalty going up to Rs 30,000 for those with more than five acres of farmland.
According to a notification published on Wednesday following the Supreme Court’s tough stance on the issue, farmers with less than two acres of land will now have to pay environmental compensation of Rs 5,000, up from Rs 2,500. And those with land between two and five acres will be fined Rs 10,000 instead of Rs 5,000.\ Reacting to the Union Government’s
move, farmer unions pointed out that farmers never want to set the crop residue on fire but they are forced to do so for want of required machinery.
They also said why farmers are always being “targeted” for pollution, asking the government about any action taken against the industry for polluting the environment.
Kejriwal on two-day visit to Punjab from Friday
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal will be on a two-day visit to Punjab from
Friday, party sources said. Kejriwal will attend the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected sarpanches in Ludhiana on Friday. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will administer the oath.
The next day, the former Delhi chief minister will campaign for his party candidates in Dera Baba Nanak and Chabbewal for the November 20 bypolls to four assembly segments in Punjab, AAP sources said. The bypolls to the four assembly segments -- Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal and Barnala -- were necessitated after MLAs representing them were elected to the Lok Sabha.
The panchayat polls were held last month in
After rejection of rice samples, Punjab millers wary of lifting high-moisture paddy
The rejection of rice samples shipped from Punjab to several states has triggered fear psychosis among rice millers over milling of this year’s paddy, thus affecting the procurement once again.
“Forced” by the state government to lift paddy from mandis, despite having moisture content above the prescribed limit, the millers said they won’t accept paddy with even the slightest deviation from the norms.
With millers being asked to replace stacks of rice, whose samples failed in Hubballi in Karnataka and Banderdewa in Arunachal Pradesh, they said they would not succumb under pressure of the state government and lift new paddy produce, which does not adhere to quality specifications, including having a moisture content of below 17 per cent.
Bharat Bhushan Binta, president, Punjab
Rice Industries’ Association, said the paddy, which does not meet the quality norms, won’t be accepted by the millers. “Due to high moisture content, around 30-35 lakh metric tonnes of paddy will remain unsold this year,” he said.
Of the 119.70 LMT of paddy purchased till today, only 60 per cent (71.90 LMT) has been lifted. As of date, 4.98 LMT of paddy is unsold.
Gangster intimidating voters via phone in Dera Baba Nanak: Congress to Election Commission
The terror of jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria is all-pervasive in electionbound Dera Baba Nanak, forcing sitting Gurdaspur Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa to write to the Election Commission seeking deployment of paramilitary forces “to ensure gangsters do not rule the roost in the November 20 Assembly bypoll”.
Randhawa’s wife Jatinder Kaur is the Congress candidate. Jaggu, whose native village of Bhagwanpur falls in this seat, is allegedly threatening sarpanches and politicians having substantial vote bank through video calls. Sources say he “orders
candidate or be ready to face the music”. He is, at present, incarcerated in Haryana. The development, claim observers, has the potential to snowball into a major controversy.
“I have informed the EC about the intimidating activities of the Bhagwanpuria gang. However, instead of deploying the paramilitary, the Punjab Police have provided security to Jaggu’s mother Harjit Kaur and his cousin Gagan Bhagwanpuria. I fail to understand why the government is protecting his family,” said Randhawa.
Another Congress leader alleged that the gangster had instilled such fear in the minds of the electorate that none dared to turn down
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump on his “historic win” in the US Presidential election.
“Heartiest congratulations my friend @ realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the IndiaUS Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership.
“Together, let’s work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity,” Modi said. Meanwhile, world leaders rushed to congratulate the Republican after Fox News projected he had defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election, which would cap a stunning political comeback four years after he left the White House. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Congress
congratulated Trump on what he hailed as an “historic return” to the White House. “Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America,” Netanyahu said on X. French President Emmanuel Macron also congratulated Trump for his win.
“Congratulations, President Donald Trump. Ready to work together just as we knew how to do during four years. With your convictions and with mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity,” he wrote on X. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy praised Trump’s “impressive” victory. “I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer,” Zelenskiy said on X social network.
The Congress on Thursday hit out at BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis for his remarks on Rahul Gandhi showing a 'red-cover' copy of the Constitution, alleging the Maharashtra deputy chief minister is "taking objection" to the very same Constitution the RSS attacked in 1949 for not being inspired by Manusmriti.
The Congress's attack came a day after Fadnavis asked what message Rahul Gandhi wanted to give by showing a red copy of the Constitution of India. Fadnavis also accused the Congress leader of building a coalition of anarchists. In politics, the colour red is often associated with the Marxist or communist ideology.
The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the liquidation of grounded Indian carrier Jet Airways in view of the “peculiar and alarming” circumstance that the resolution plan had not been implemented for five years. A Bench of CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra said
it had no choice but to order liquidation of Jet Airways as the resolution plan was not possible to be implemented and it had to ensure that liquidation remained an option for the corporate creditor. “In
the peculiar and alarming circumstances…and also keeping in mind the fact that almost five years have elapsed since the Resolution Plan was duly approved by the NCLAT and there being no progress worth the name, we are left with no other option but to invoke our jurisdiction under Article 142 of the Constitution and direct that the corporate debtor be taken in liquidation,” it said. The Bench directed NCLT, Mumbai, to take appropriate steps for appointment of liquidator and all other necessary formalities for commencement of liquidation of the corporate debtor.
“We have reached the conclusion that the impugned order passed by the NCLAT is perverse and unsustainable in law. It has led to further complications,” the top court said, setting aside the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) order that upheld the transfer of Jet Airways ownership to the Jalan-Kalrock Consortium (JKC) under an approved resolution plan.
The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday conducted searches against some of the "main vendors" operating on platforms of e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart as part of a foreign direct investment "violation" investigation, official sources said. A total of 19 premises of these "preferred" vendors located in Delhi, Gurugram and Panchkula (Haryana), Hyderabad (Telangana) and Bengaluru (Karnataka) were covered as part of the action, sources said. It is learnt that the ED inspected documents and took copies of some from the premises of about six such vendors who were not named. Sources said a probe has been initiated by the federal agency under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) after it received several complaints against the two large e-commerce companies where it is alleged that they were "violating India's
FDI (foreign direct investment) rules by directly or indirectly influencing the sale price of goods or services and not providing level playing field for all the vendors". There was no immediate response from the two e-commerce companies. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) welcomed the ED action. "The CAIT, along with several other trade bodies, has been raising these issues for the past few years. I welcome the Enforcement Directorate's actions as a step in the right direction," CAIT secretary general and BJP MP from Delhi Praveen Khandelwal said in a statement. He claimed that the Competition Commission of India (CCI) had also issued "penalty notices" to Amazon and Flipkart, and their "preferred" sellers, for "engaging" in anticompetitive practices that have adversely affected small traders and grocery stores.
Following the victory of Donald Trump and his vice presidential candidate JD Vance in the 2024 US presidential elections, there is euphoria at Vadluru in Andhra Pradesh, which is the ancestral village of Usha Chilukuri Vance.
With the Trump-Vance victory on Wednesday, Usha, 38, is set to become America’s Second Lady. An Indian-American lawyer, Usha Chilukuri Vance burst into the national spotlight in July after her husband JD Vance was named by Donald Trump as his running mate.
suburb. A bright student and a bookworm, Usha showed leadership qualities, her friends told media.
“We just celebrated Usha’s husband’s victory. We burst crackers and preceded this celebration with prayers for JD Vance’s victory yesterday at the local Sai Baba temple,” P Srinivasa Raju (53), a former village president Daughter of Indian immigrants, Usha grew up in a San Diego
A Gates Scholar, her career spans Cambridge and Yale, and then clerking for various members of the Supreme Court. Her last job was that of a civil litigation attorney at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. Usha and Vance met at Yale Law School while studying and later married in 2014 in Kentucky. The ceremony was blessed by a Hindu priest at a different event, according to a New York Times profile. The Vances have three children. After Vance was chosen as Trump’s running mate, Usha's Hindu roots soon became talk of the town. Vance has said on several occasions that his wife is not a Christian, but was “very supportive” of deepening his faith.
A candidate of the NCP(SP) in central Maharashtra's Marathwada region has promised to arrange marriages of bachelors in his constituency if he wins the assembly election.
The novel promise made by Rajesaheb Deshmukh, who is contesting from Parli in Beed district, highlighted the issue of men of marriageable age in rural areas failing to find a bride.
A video of Deshmukh's statement went viral on Wednesday. His main rival in the November 20 elections is state agriculture minister Dhananjay
Munde, a leader of the Nationalist Congress Party led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
"If I become an MLA, I will conduct marriages of all the bachelors. We will give work to the youth. People ask (a man who is seeking a bride) if he has a job or business. When the district guardian minister (Dhananjay Munde) himself has no business, what you are going to get," Deshmukh said. Munde did not bring a single industry to the constituency, and hence the local bachelors are finding it difficult to get married for want of jobs, he claimed.
In a first-of-its-kind interaction, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Thursday talked to an 'AI lawyer' in the National Judicial Museum and Archive (NJMA) on the Supreme Court premises.
CJI Chandrachud – who is demitting office on November 10 -- asked the ‘AI lawyer’ if the death penalty was constitutional in India.
“Yes, the death penalty is constitutional in India. It is reserved for the rarest of rare cases as determined by the Supreme Court where the crime is exceptionally heinous and warrants such a punishment,” the ‘AI lawyer’ responded rather confidently, much to the amusement of the CJI and fellow Supreme Court judges and lawyers who listened to the answer attentively.
Earlier, the CJI inaugurated the National Judicial Museum and Archive. The museum has been set up in the vacant space where the Old Judges' Library used to function. The Supreme
Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) boycotted the event. Former SCBA president and senior advocate Vikas Singh wrote to CJI Chandrachud raising strong objection to the Supreme Court’s decision to convert the old judges' library into a public museum. Singh expressed “deep pain and anguish” over infrastructure decisions that, according to him, have overlooked the pressing needs of the legal fraternity.
There are crazy rich Asians, and then there is the richest of them all, Reliance Industries boss Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man. If the recent wedding festivities of his youngest son, Anant Ambani, that grabbed the global spotlight wasn’t proof enough of his immense wealth, $102 billion, to be exact, then perhaps something as simple as the electricity bill of his Godzilla-sized Mumbai residence should do the trick. Firstly, the centibillionaire resides in one of Mumbai’s toniest neighborhoods in a 27-story tall family home called Antilia, which is valued at $4.7 billion. When you live in the most expensive private home in the world (only Buckingham Palace is worth more), you pay bills that match your status. In the one month since he moved in with his wife, Nita, and their three children to Antilia, the house has generated a power bill of INR 70,69,488. According to media reports, it was, unsurprisingly, Mumbai’s highest residential electricity bill, consuming a whopping 6,37,240 units (1 unit = 1 one kilowatt-hour) of electricity (a California resident would pay around $190,000 for that many units of electricity). To put it into perspective, this many units could charge 170 Tesla Model 3 cars a total of 75 times, giving each of them enough range to circle the Earth once.
