Canadian households are spending nearly half of their paycheques on taxes
A new study finds that the average Canadian family spends most of its income on taxes instead of basic necessities.
The Fraser Institute released the 2024 edition of the Canadian Consumer Tax Index on Wednesday, revealing just how much households spent on taxes in 2023.
The report found that the average family spent 43% of its income on taxes last year, more than the 35.6% spent on basic needs like housing, food and clothing combined.
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Virtual long-term care support & monitoring for seniors in BC
The provincial government is adding a new virtual care program for seniors who need daily care but want to remain in their own homes rather than a longterm care centre.
It’s called the long-term care at home program and some of the first homes being fitted with health technology will be in Delta and Victoria. Eligible seniors will receive tech products like medicine dispensers, robot vacuums to help with housekeeping, and wearable pendants for
fall detection — but also devices to help with communication. Derrick Bernardo, president and CEO of Broadmead Care Centre in Victoria, tells 1130 NewsRadio it will provide seniors with a direct line to its healthcare workers.
“They can connect 24/7 to any of our expert staff to support them in any of their requirements, whether it be health-related, wellnessrelated and so forth,” said Bernardo.
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Metro Vancouver heats up in time for the long weekend
Beach and picnic weather is back to Metro Vancouver just in time for the B.C. Day long weekend. After a few rainy and damp days, the heat is coming back full force with temperatures expected to rise to the mid-20s in the B.C. south coast, hitting the low 30s inland in the eastern portions of Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
“We’ve got a great summer weekend on tap here,” said meteorologist Matt Loney with Environment Canada. The sunshine is a sure thing for the next seven days as “we don’t see anything in the short term coming in that would put the edge off the temperatures.”
The weather agency is forecasting a high of 25 C near the water from Friday to Saturday, dipping slightly to 24 C starting Monday. Temperatures are warmer in the Fraser Valley, nudging up to 31 C in Abbotsford, with Saturday expected to be the hottest day of the week.
The average high for this time of year is about 23 C near the water and 26 C inland, said Loney. “We’re going to be above that by a significant amount.”
There is a potential for smoke to make its way in from the B.C. Interior next week, he noted, depending on weather conditions, the number of new wildfires and their proximity to the region.
Starving American yoga student chained to tree ‘for 40 days’
An American woman who went to India a decade ago to study yoga and meditation has claimed she survived without food and water for 40 days after being shackled to a tree by her former husband.
U.S. citizen Lalita Kayi Kumar, 50, was found starving and emaciated on Saturday by a local shepherd in a remote forest in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra about 25 miles from Goa, according to reports.
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6 charged, 1 wanted Canada-wide in extortion against Edmonton’s South Asian community
Edmonton police say six people have been charged and Canada-wide warrants have been issued for a seventh man in connection to a series of extortion incidents against the South Asian community in the city.
The EPS says Project Gaslight is a massive investigation into a series of extortion, a good portion of which have happened in the Cavanagh neighbourhood.
There are 40 incidents believed to be connected to the extortions. Police say the latest of which happened Friday morning when a fire was set at an apartment building in Cavanagh.
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Canada’s ‘Worst Decline In 40 Years’
Canada’s standard of living is on track for its worst decline in 40 years, according to a new study by Canada’s Fraser Institute.
The study compared the three worst periods of decline in Canada in the last 40 years – the 1989 recession, the 2008 global financial crisis, and this post-pandemic era.
They found that, unlike the previous recessions, Canada is not recovering this time. Something broke. In fact, according to the Financial Post, since 2019 Canada’s had the worst growth out of 50 developed economies. Inflation-adjusted Canadian wages have been flat since 2016. So, yes, something broke.
And it’s nowhere near over: Canada’s perperson real GDP is still falling and with a looming US recession – the US is 75% of Canada’s exports – Canada could crash again before it ever recovered. In previous videos, I’ve talked about the disaster that is Justin Trudeau’s Canada. In short, incomes are West Virginia-level, house prices are at the Los Angeles level, and Canadian taxes are halfway to the Soviet Union.
Delta council last week gave preliminary approval for a large multi-unit residential development at the corner of 75A Avenue and Scott Road.
The development will see 285 new market condos in a sprawling six-storey complex.
The city has noted that the property is located within 400 metres of the Scottsdale Transit Exchange. Under new provincial legislation, developments at a location near a transit exchange, and under a certain floor space ratio and height of eight storeys, cannot be denied based on density or height. The proposal is also consistent with the designation of the Scott
It’s not rare for a middle-class family in Canada to pay half their income in taxes.
Meanwhile, since the pandemic, Canada’s official food inflation is up 25%, and energy is up 30% – partly thanks to a carbon tax.
And keep in mind sales tax in most Canadian provinces is 13 to 15 percent on everything you buy. While Canadians post TikToks about trying to stretch a loaf of rye bread through the week or selling off their possessions to afford groceries, the cost of living is hitting harder with time.
Canadian bankruptcy filings jumped 40% last year, while CIBC reports nearly half of Canadians have zero emergency savings.
According to StatsCan Canada’s violent crime rate is up 40% since 2014.
An Ipsos poll found 7 in 10 Canadians agree that “Canada is broken” – rising to 8 in 10 of those between age 18 and 34. Angus found fully 42% of Canadians are considering moving to another country. Near-term things will get worse because Canadians are stuck with Trudeau through the next election in 2025.
Road Corridor under the new Delta Official Community Pan (OCP), intended for mid-to high-rise residential and mixed-use buildings.
The owner needs to satisfy several requirements as a condition of final consideration and adoption by council. The project is one of several high-density developments along the corridor that have been approved by council over that past couple of years.
During council’s discussion on the application, it was noted Scott Road will be one of the main future development areas for the city, and that the City of Surrey is also working on a master plan for its side of the corridor.
Could the City of Surrey’s powers and governance authority be outlined in a separate piece of provincial legislation?
According to Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke, the City of Surrey is in need of its own unique standalone provincial legislation similar to the Vancouver Charter, which governs how the City of Vancouver operates.
The City of Surrey and all other municipal governments in British Columbia operate under the BC Local Government Act, which does not apply to the City of Vancouver as it has its own Vancouver Charter. During a public meeting today, Surrey City Council approved Locke’s member motion directing City of Surrey staff to prepare a report outlining the steps the municipal government would need to achieve to create a new Surrey Charter. The report
would also compare the benefits, challenges, and “potential models for implementation.”
Locke states that the City of Surrey would benefit from the Surrey Charter, as opposed to being under the BC Local Government Act, as such a move would recognize the jurisdiction’s rapid growth and unique needs and provide greater autonomy for the municipal government to selfgovern.
The municipal government specifically noted its population growth as part of the rationale, with Surrey forecast to exceed Vancouver’s population by 2029. By 2029, the City of Surrey will become BC’s most populated city when it reaches 785,619 residents — squeaking past Vancouver’s 780,075 residents. The gap led by Surrey will grow with each passing year afterward.
‘Against all odds’: Sports world in awe of Canada advancing to Olympic quarterfinals
Canada’s gold medal defence lives on.
Despite being deducted six points by FIFA, the Canadian Women’s National Team is headed to the Olympic quarterfinals after securing another late victory, this time over Colombia to go 3-0 in group play.
Vanessa Gilles once again played the hero, scoring what ended up as the game-winning goal with a header in the 61st minute.
Once the match came to an end, Canadians and soccer fans alike took to social media to celebrate
the Women’s National Team for their resilience in earning a chance to play in the knockout rounds.
Even Canada’s most clutch captain, MariePhilip Poulin, admired the women’s perserverance and ability to find success against all odds.
“In the face of adversity that was brought to them, they rose even higher,” Poulin wrote on her Instagram page. “No matter what happens next in their Olympic journey, in my heart and mind, they have already won.
Father and son facing terror charges were planning ‘serious violent attack in Toronto’
RCMP say a father and son who were arrested in Richmond Hill on terrorism charges last week were “in the advanced stages of planning a serious violent attack in Toronto.”
At a news conference Wednesday morning, RCMP officials said an Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) became aware of the threat in early July.
“On July, 28 2024, GTA INSET arrested a father and son at a hotel in Richmond Hill who were in the advanced stages of planning a serious violent attack in Toronto,” Assistant Commissioner Matt Peggs, Commanding Officer for Ontario, told reporters. An emergency response team moved in to arrest the pair at a hotel room they were renting in Richmond Hill that night after the men allegedly acquired an axe and a machete.
Officials said the arrests were effected “in a textbook fashion” without any excess damage “beyond what you’d expect” and no injuries.
“The teams that were responsible and the support teams that were responsible for effecting that arrest completed their job in a tactical manner,” RCMP Superintendent James Parr said. “They did it exactly the way they’re trained, and it went off exactly the way that it was planned.”
The two men, who are both Canadian citizens, are Toronto residents and it’s not clear why they were at the hotel in Richmond Hill.
“We’re still trying to establish exactly who were
the intended targets of this,” Parr said.
Police said they were not aware of any other targets outside of Toronto.
Police also said they believe the scope of the planned attack was “small” but “real.”
“The information we have is it wasn’t some sort of widespread sort of threat which provides us some confidence in saying that we believe the threat is neutralized,” Parr said. “We don’t believe there is something outstanding right now as we sit here. But as far as where that plan might have went, naturally we don’t know how it could have grown.” The two men are now facing six terrorrelated charges altogether.
Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi, 62, and Mostafa Eldidi, 26, appeared in court to face the charges July 29.
In court documents, prosecutors allege that sometime between July 1 and July 29, the two men knowingly facilitated a terrorist activity and were knowingly helping the Islamic State enhance its ability to carry out terrorist activity.
Specifically, the documents allege the two were conspiring to commit murder for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with the Islamic State. That happened, RCMP allege, while the men were in Toronto, York Region and other parts of Ontario.
Prosecutors allege that around July 28, Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi bought an axe and that Mostafa Eldidi bought a machete for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with the Islamic State.
The documents do not say exactly what the two may have planned to do next.
Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi is also charged with committing an aggravated assault outside of Canada for the benefit of the Islamic State in June of 2015.
PM’s climate plan costs $200 billion
When it comes to the Trudeau government’s climate change policies, the one that attracts the most attention by far is the federal fuel charge, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the total costs to taxpayers.
The fuel charge began in 2019 at $20 per tonne of industrial greenhouse gas emissions, initially raising the cost of gasoline by 4.42 cents per litre and natural gas by 3.91 cents per cubic metre, along with increasing the price on 20 other forms of fossil fuel energy.
Today, the federal fuel charge is $80 per tonne of emissions — raising the cost of gasoline by 17.61 cents per litre — on its way to $170 per tonne of emissions in 2030, when it will increase the cost of gasoline by 37.43 cents per litre.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer says when the economic damage caused by the carbon tax is factored in, 60% of households paying it receive less in rebates than they pay in carbon taxes.
Similarly, the carbon tax increases the cost of natural gas by 15.25 cents per cubic metre this year, on its way to 32.40 cents per cubic metre in 2030.
The Trudeau government says the carbon tax’s rebate system means 80% of households paying it — residents of all provinces except Quebec and B.C., which have separate systems — receive more in rebates than they pay in carbon taxes.
Surrey RCMP investigating another act of porch piracy
However, the Trudeau government’s climate change plan is about a lot more than the federal fuel charge.
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault boasted last year that the federal government has committed more than $200 billion of taxpayers’ money to addressing climate change in more than 100 government programs.
Among other polices, this includes a carbon pricing system for large industrial emitters, a cap on emissions in the oil and gas sector, methane regulations, clean fuel and clean electricity regulations, green energy tax credits, electric vehicle mandates, subsidies for people who buy EVs and more.
While many economists argue that a carbon tax is the most efficient way to reduce emissions compared to more expensive programs such as regulations and subsidies, the problem with the Trudeau government’s climate change plan is that it has imposed regulations and subsides on top of its carbon tax.
BC government orders New Westminster, Port Coquitlam, and Langley City to add 8,600 homes over the next five years through 2029
Another 10 cities across British Columbia have been issued new housing supply target orders.
This represents the third set of municipal governments required to catalyze the completion — rather than just the approval — of a net gain in new homes over the next five years, through 2029.
“The best way to solve the housing crisis and build more homes for people is by working together,” said Ravi Kahlon, BC Minister of Housing, in a statement today.
“Our government is working closely with municipalities to ensure more homes are built in communities with the greatest needs. By having these targets, all levels of government will be able to align to address the housing crisis and help build more affordable housing for people in these communities for years to come.” The third set of cities includes the three Metro Vancouver jurisdictions of the City of New Westminster, City of Port Coquitlam, and City of Langley, which have a combined total target order of nearly 8,600 net new homes.
The largest of the target orders is for the City of New Westminster, which has been given a quota of 4,432 new net homes to meet, including 2,133 ownership units and 2,298 secured purpose-built rental units, with 1,109 market rental units and
Another case of package theft by porch pirates caught on camera has prompted an investigation by RCMP and left a Surrey family questioning whether they are safe in their own home.
A delivery driver dropped off a package just after 5:30 Tuesday evening at a detached
1,189 below-market units. As well, the municipal government should catalyze 67 supportive housing units.
The overall unit size mix of the target order is 2,423 studio and one-bedroom units, 832 twobedroom units, and 1,176 three-bedroom units.
“The City of New Westminster has always valued our partnership with the Province in advancing our work to realize the needs of our community,” said New Westminster Mayor Patrick Johnstone in a statement today.
“And now more than ever we need to work shoulder-to-shoulder to create communities that not only offer the necessary housing options for our citizens, but also provide the required and necessary services that residents need and deserve.”
According to the municipal government’s standalone release in reaction to the provincial government’s announcement, the provincial target order for New Westminster is higher than the City’s 2021 Council-endorsed target of 5,841 net new units over 10 years, which was based on a provincially-mandated Housing Needs Report.
The City of New Westminster also noted that the ambitious housing targets also require significant investments in infrastructure, park spaces, schools, and high-quality amenities.
When it disappeared, the family checked their CCTV cameras and found it had been stolen less than two minutes after being dropped off.
A man dressed in a red sweatshirt and red basketball shorts can be seen strolling nonchalantly into the yard and onto the porch
even glances inside the mailbox, finding it empty, before casually walking away.
“And we could see him also in the camera, before coming to our place, he went to the opposite house as well, and the close-by house as well. So, that’s been happening. It’s very, very sad,” said Nagarathnam
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Canadians are tired of Ottawa’s over-taxing, high-spending
By Franco Terrazzano: The Trudeau government is like a band that only knows one tune: higher taxes and spending. The government recently imposed a capital gains tax hike. Part of the rationale for the hike is to reduce the debt burden on future Canadians.
“Canada could ínance these critical investments by taking on more debt, but that would place an unfair burden on younger generations,” Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said as she announced her capital gains tax hike. “Fiscal responsibility matters.” But if the government is worried about deícits and debt, couldn’t it cut wasteful spending instead?
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation commissioned a Leger poll asking Canadians if they would rather the government increase capital gains taxes or reduce spending to rein in the deícit. The poll shows that 54 percent of Canadians prefer the government to cut spending, while only 23 percent prefer the capital gains tax increase. Twentythree percent of Canadians are unsure.
Corporate welfare. Want the rich to pay more? Start by making rich multinational corporations pay for their own factories instead of putting taxpayers on the hook for about $30 billion to multinational corporations like Honda, Volkswagen, Stellantis, and Northvolt. The Trudeau government has also announced more than $600 million for the Ford Motor Company, $551 million for Umicore, $420 million for Algoma Steel, $110 million for Toyota, $372 million for Bombardier and $12 million for Loblaws, among others. According to the Fraser Institute, federal corporate subsidies totalled $11.2 billion in 2022. That’s more than double what the government spent on corporate subsidies in 2015, even after accounting for inîation. And it’s $4.2 billion more than the federal government will bring in through the capital gains tax hike this year.
The bureaucracy. The government must also take air out of its ballooning bureaucracy, which consumes more than half of its day-to-day spending. The government’s payroll hit a record $67 billion last year, increasing 68 percent since 2016. The reason for the spike? A bigger bureaucracy collecting bigger paycheques. The Trudeau government has hired about 100,000 bureaucrats since 2015. It also rubberstamped more than $1.5 billion in bonuses, despite the Parliamentary Budget Oïcer índing “less than 50 percent of (performance) targets are consistently met.”
Pattullo Bridge replacement plans ‘absurd’: Surrey mayor
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke says replacing the four-lane Pattullo Bridge with another fourlane bridge is “absurd.”
“It’s still disappointing to me that we’re going to have a Pattullo Bridge that’s four lanes. It’s actually kind-of ridiculous we’re trading a fourlane bridge for a four-lane bridge when we know that bridge was built, what, 80 years ago or something like that? It just seems absurd,” she said. “I think it’s time for the Province to really step up and do some heavy lifting in Surrey, especially around transportation.”
Scott Neuman, Surrey’s general manager of engineering, presented a corporate report to city council on July 22 asking the politicians to endorse proposed short-term priorities for the city, which they did.
“Over the past two years, council has committed to advancing significant investment in transportation projects across the city to alleviate traffic congestion, support the growth
within the city and provide residents with more transportation choices, such as improved access to transit,” Neuman told council. “Over the last year, the engineering department has effectively and successfully advanced over $77 million in transportation capital investments across the city, which is one of the largest annual capital program in the past five years.”
Neuman noted in his report that the City of Surrey has “consistently advocated for six travel lanes on opening day,” which is now expected to be in the Fall of 2025.
“The Province has committed to consult with Surrey, New Westminster, and the Mayors’ Council to further study the bridge and regional network performance to consider expansion to the six-lane option,” he further noted, “however, the Province has not provided a firm timeline nor funding for this work. The project has experienced delays, resulting with the new opening date of Fall 2025.”
Veteran Richmond BC United MLA jumping ship to BC Conservatives
BC United says longtime MLA Teresa Wat is leaving the party and defecting to the BC Conservatives. A representative of BC United confirmed to CityNews Monday that Wat has indicated her intention to leave, but claims it isn’t on the best terms.
“If Teresa Wat feels that her values better align with John Rustad’s Party, we wish her well,” said Adam Wilson, a communications director for the party.
“Sadly we can confirm that a significant amount of confidential member information was exported by her team, prior to her decision to leave.”
media to decry a rumour that she might defect.
“This is pure speculation,” said Wat replying to a post saying she may cross the floor.
Wilson did not say what confidential information Wat allegedly exported.
Wat represents the Richmond North-Centre riding — which will have its name changed to Richmond-Bridgeview in the upcoming election. She is the fourth elected BC United party member to cross the floor to the Conservatives. In late May, Wat took to social
“I remain a proud [BC United Caucus] MLA… and have been nominated again to run for [BC United] in the upcoming election.”
Stewart Prest, a political science lecturer at the University of British Columbia, tells CityNews that Wat’s move is an indication of just how effective the BC Conservatives have been in distinguishing their party as a “big-tent, right-of-centre option for politicians in the province.”
“This is just the latest development to indicate that the BC Conservatives really are becoming a destination party for anyone who sees themselves at home on the right side of the political spectrum, and that encompasses a broad range of communities and backgrounds,” said Prest.
He says her defection, among others, will put increased pressure on the BC NDP to reconsider their stance on key issues.
Vancouver’s pedestrian scramble pilot goes live at Granville and Robson
Crossing the street at one of downtown Vancouver’s busiest intersections will look a little different from Tuesday, as the city activates a pedestrian scramble at Robson and Granville streets. When the walk light turns on, pedestrians will now be able to cross in all directions, including diagonally.
Last year, City of Vancouver staff were asked to identify the best intersection to pilot the scramble crossing which already exists in big
cities around the world — most famously known at the Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo. “This is meant to enhance pedestrian safety, and also generate some buzz and energy at this corner of Granville and Robson,” city Coun. Peter Meiszner told CityNews Vancouver.
Crossing the street diagonally also shortens the distance and time in which pedestrians have to cross. The city has also installed audio cues and tactile stripes for those with accessibility needs.
Witness who stormed out of House committee in tears demands apology from Liberal MP
A witness who stormed out of a parliamentary committee meeting in tears Wednesday is demanding an apology from a Liberal MP who put a halt to a planned discussion about violence against women in favour of a debate about abortion rights.
Cait Alexander was on Parliament Hill to provide testimony at a rare summer hearing of the House of Commons status of women committee when she says Liberal MP Anita Vandenbeld re-victimized her as a survivor of domestic violence.
“I am completely flabbergasted,” Alexander said in an interview after the meeting Wednesday.
“This is exactly what it felt like these last few years, where I’m
literally showing my bludgeoned, bleeding, bruised body and the people who have authority and power in this country are saying, ‘Well, we care about you.’ But then they silence you.”
Vandenbeld, who serves as parliamentary secretary to the Minister of International Development, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Alexander was one of two witnesses who stormed out of the meeting organized so MPs could hear from advocates for domestic violence victims and a deputy chief of the Peel Regional Police.
The meeting was scheduled after the killing of Breanna Broadfoot, 17, in London, Ont., who police say was a victim of intimate partner violence.
Surrey property owner gets notice for breaking city building bylaws
Surrey City Council has filed a notice on a property it says violates city building bylaws.
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke says that the owner of a property located near 126 Street and 76 Avenue has built three additional suites on top of their original home without any building permits.
She says the owner seemed to have ignored “stop work” orders from bylaw inspectors for over two years, and the issue recently returned to the city. The city then decided to put a “red flag” on their property title.
“This is really a public safety issue,” she said. “This owner built three full suites, three full kitchens, wiring and plumbing, and all those things that go along with a full development.”
this property, but it may be difficult for them to get a mortgage or insurance.
“You can’t just build whatever you want on your property and think that it’s not going to impact future homeowners,” she said. “This is a very big issue.”
Locke says it was a significant add-on, claiming it was “more than doubling the size of the home.”
The mayor says anyone planning to make changes to their property must get a permit before they make any additions to their homes.
“You can only imagine if a fire were to happen; if there was a fire in that premises, it would spread like crazy,” she said. “This is now a multi-story house. It went from a very small footprint to a very large footprint.”
Locke says it is significant to have reputable people do the work; as of now, the city has no idea who built that house.
“What was in the wall? What was in the wiring? There is no way that the city would know that without having a permit,” she said. The mayor says anyone else can purchase
Locke explains that in the future, the owner of this property could face issues if they decide to sell or refinance the property.
“It will give notice to anybody that this property has a risk assessment on it,” the mayor said. Locke says there are far too many people who have “stop work” orders on their properties in Surrey. She says often people rip off the orders and ignore them.
“They don’t respond to the bylaw officers when they knock on the door. And so we’re just taking action with that kind of behaviour,” she said.
Locke says that the owner of this property had already received penalties of $5,000 because of the bylaws they breached, but having this on their property title is a “whole different ballgame.”
“Illegal construction not only poses serious safety risks but also erodes the integrity of building regulations. The legal measures we have taken will protect neighbourhoods, future homeowners, and uphold the standards that make Surrey a safe and vibrant place to live for all. I would like to thank the Illegal Construction Enforcement Team for their diligent efforts in this critical work,” the mayor said, in a release on Tuesday.
Starving American yoga student chained to tree ‘for 40 days’
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The shepherd broke an iron chain that was used to secure her to the tree. Police said she was severely dehydrated and unable to speak.
Officers said Kumar met and married an Indian man while studying yoga in Tamil Nadu, the same province in southeast India where Kamala Harris’ grandfather comes from. The couple reportedly fell out and the exhusband has now been charged with attempted murder.
According to the Indian Express, the police case is based on a letter written by the American woman, who has not yet talked about her
ordeal. “Injection for extreme psychosis which causes severe locked jaw and inability to drink any water.
Need intravenous food… 40 days without food in forest—husband tied me to a tree in a forest and said I would die there,” the note read. Police are said to be skeptical that Kumar could have survived for 40 days without food or water.
“When we discovered her, she was seriously dehydrated. It appears that she was stuck there for a minimum of 48 hours. Although she was mute,” said Amol Chavan, an inspector at Sawantwadi Police St.
Man runs over moving ground to narrowly escape landslide along BC river, rescuer says
A man camping along the Chilcotin River in British Columbia’s central Interior woke up to the sound of a landslide overnight Tuesday and managed to run to safety as the ground moved beneath his feet.
Debra Bortolussi with Central Cariboo Search and Rescue said the man told rescuers the next morning that he had set up camp with his dog during a rafting trip, when he heard sounds of the slide at around midnight and started running.
“It genuinely seems like a miracle that he did not get caught in it,” Bortolussi said in an interview following Wednesday’s rescue operation.
“It directly came down overtop of where he was,” she said. “His tent, his raft, everything was taken out by the landslide itself.”
The man’s dog is missing, but Bortolussi said rescuers are hopeful they might find it because he had yelled at the dog to follow him during the escape. The landslide is blocking the river, and the Cariboo Regional District issued evacuation orders spanning 107 kilometres along the river due to “immediate danger to life and safety” caused by flooding as the waterway backs up.
A statement from the regional district said 12 homes are covered under the evacuation orders with an estimated 13 residents.
The district also declared a state of local emergency Wednesday, telling residents to gather their families and take anyone else who may need help to get out.
Along with a flood warning for the Chilcotin River upstream of the landslide in
BC announces virtual long-term care support, monitoring for seniors
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Interested people might be seniors on a long-term care waitlist or assisted living waitlist while living at home and living with a primary caregiver — or they could be living at home without a caregiver but may be at risk of isolation or falling and might benefit from vitals and medication monitoring.
Health Minister Adrian Dix tells 1130 NewsRadio the program is fully funded for the next four years, and he expects it to support around 2,700 participants.
He says the provincial government worked with the federal government to secure
“around $45 million” in initial funding for an initiative unlike any other.
“It’s a real innovation. No province in Canada has a program like this, and we haven’t found them in the United States either,” said Dix.
The project is being piloted with the support of KinVillage in Delta, where 11 seniors are already enrolled, and Bernardo’s Broadmead Care, where he says his team will be serving 75 participants by this fall.
“It’s about being proactive and making sure seniors have the tools to survive and stay and age seamlessly in their own homes,” said
Round table on International Education
MSM Group, in partnership with the BC-India Business Network (BC-IBN), hosted a round table on “International Education & Brand Canada,” co-hosted by MSM Group’s CEO Dr. Raghwa Gopal, and CIO Sobhana Jaya-Madhavan.
education destination, the critical importance of international education and the contributions of international students to the Canadian economy and society at large.
Calls for action included:
The discussion focused on the current state of international education in Canada, its impact on “Brand Canada,” the geopolitical factors at play and related matters. The discussion included the short—and long-term implications, collective strategies to promote relevant and positive information about Canada as an
- make reliable and good information available to prospective students and their families in their country of origin
- have pre-arrival and post-arrival supports in place for international students to maximize their chances to succeed in Canada
- foster greater collaboration between sectors, partners and stakeholders who are part of and/or connected to the international education ecosystem
- encourage transparent and open dialogue about serious problems and work together to find meaningful solutions that address the root causes of problems.
New Westminster police seeking 2 suspects in stabbing
Police in New Westminster are looking for two suspects after a stabbing near the riverfront Tuesday night. The New Westminster Police Department says a witness discovered a man with injuries around 10 p.m. and flagged down an officer outside a nearby police station.
Police believe there was some sort of altercation beforehand near the staircase of the Front Street parkade that leads to Westminster Pier Park. Officers reportedly provided the victim with first aid before paramedics took him to the hospital. Now police are asking for witnesses to come forward to help identify
two suspects. The first suspect is described as a 6’5 tall man with a slim build and a speech impediment. He was wearing a horizontal striped shirt and jeans.
The second suspect is described as a 5’5 tall man wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, jeans, a baseball cap, and a blue medical mask.
Police say the two suspects were accompanied by two women. The New Westminster Police Major Crime Unit has reportedly taken charge of the investigation and is asking you to reach out to them at 604-529-2430 or by emailing mcucrimetips@nwpolice.org.
Over 1,150 toxic-drug deaths in BC in 1st half of 2024
At least 1,158 British Columbians died of toxic, unregulated drugs in the first half of 2024, the B.C. Coroners Service says — a rate of about six people per day. It’s a nine per cent decrease compared to the first six months of the previous record-setting year.
“We are encouraged by these numbers, but more work needs to be done,” Mark Lysyshyn, deputy chief medical health officer with Vancouver Coastal Health, said in an interview with CBC News.” Although we’re seeing some improvements, this is still a very serious problem in a lot of places. Drug toxicity continues to be the leading cause of death in
B.C. for people aged 10-59, according to the B.C. Coroners Service.
“People are continuing to lose their loved ones in communities across B.C. at a tragic rate,” Acting Chief Coroner John McNamee said in a statement. In response to the latest figures, B.C. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside said the province is ramping up its capacity to care for substance users.
“Every single one of these people was irreplaceable to their loved ones,” she said in a statement. “These losses reinforce the urgent need to keep people safe from toxic drugs and to connect them with care and treatment.”
BC seeks to keep properties linked to accused in murder conspiracies
The B.C. government wants four properties worth almost $6 million forfeited, citing links to three gangsters who are accused of conspiring to kill five people in 2022.
The director of civil forfeiture filed a statement of claim earlier this month, alleging that Gavinder Siekham had set up a criminal organization to direct his associates Navpreet Dhaliwal and Anmol Sandhu “in drug trafficking and murder.”
All three were charged with conspiracy to commit murder and drug trafficking in February after an Abbotsford Police Department investigation called Project High Table.
The case started as a drug trafficking probe targeting Sandhu and Dhaliwal, Abbotsford police Const. Art Stele told Postmedia at the time. He said that the three men “were communicating back and forth … we have evidence that they were communicating to murder rival gang members who are all active within the continuing and brutal gang conflict.”
More details of the alleged conspiracies are contained in the 15-page statement of claim, filed
in B.C. Supreme Court on July 14. The court document said the investigation began in August 2022 and led to the arrest that November of both Sandhu and Dhaliwal.
“The APD obtained a search warrant for their cellphones. The cellphones were seized and the APD located numerous chats and conversations that detailed the planning, logistics, and resources for several murders of rival gang members,” the director alleged.
“Between June 11, 2022, and Nov. 10, 2022, Gavinder Siekham conspired to commit the murder of five different individuals and entered into agreements with Navpreet Dhaliwal and Anmol Sidhu with the intention to put their common design into effect in order to murder five individuals.”
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“Taxes remain the largest household expense for families in Canada,” said Jake Fuss, director of Fiscal Studies at the public policy think-tank and co-author of the study.
According to the report, the average household earned an income of $109,235 and paid, in total, taxes equaling $46,988.
The Fraser Institute says this is a dramatic shift since 1961, when the average family spent less of its income on duties (33.5%) than the basic necessities (56.5%).
“Taxes have grown much more rapidly than any other single expenditure for the average Canadian family,” reads the report.
However, it’s important to note that the taxfunded federal programs and social services that exist today may not have existed back then.
One example is the Canada Health Act, which was passed in 1984 and provides Canadians with free healthcare. The Fraser Institute also attributes this spike in spending to “visible and hidden” costs like income, payroll, sales, property, carbon, health, fuel, and alcohol taxes. The report added that since 1961, the average Canadian household’s total tax bill has increased nominally by 2,705%, dwarfing increases in annual housing costs (2,006%), clothing (478%) and food (901%).
“Considering the sheer amount of income that goes towards taxes in this country,
Canadians may question whether or not we’re getting good value for our money,” said Fuss. Basic necessities aren’t getting any cheaper either, as Canadians continue to grapple with rising food costs and housing affordability.
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How a cross-border conspiracy to smuggle drugs into B.C. on a Jet Ski unravelled
A 67-year-old man who planned to use a Jet Ski to smuggle more than 180 kilograms of fentanyl and methamphetamine into Canada was convicted in a Seattle courtroom Friday, after beachcombers found the drugs stashed in several duffel bags along the Washington state coastline. John Michael Sherwood was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and conspiracy to commit international money laundering following a six-day trial.
The jury deliberated on the case for about three hours before reaching its verdict in the U.S. District Court in Seattle, according to the U.S. attorney’s office for western Washington.
The court heard that Sherwood brought the drugs from California to Port Angeles, Wash., and planned to use a Jet Ski and an inflatable raft to cross the Strait of Juan de Fuca to deliver the drugs to a contact on Vancouver Island.
His plan was foiled, however, on April 6, 2021, when a family camping on a beach west of Port Angeles found one of the duffel bags partially submerged in the tide.
They pulled the bag out of the water and left it on the beach for whoever might have left it. When the bag was still there the next morning, they opened it up and found what they
believed to be drugs inside, according to court documents.
The family reported the find to authorities, who counted approximately 25 kilograms of methamphetamine and one kilogram of powdered fentanyl inside.
Around the same time, another beachcomber grew suspicious when they saw a U-Haul van coming and going from the secluded beach where a deflated Zodiac-style raft was partially submerged in the water, according to testimony delivered at trial. Four days after the discovery, seven more duffel bags were found by a beachgoer in the same area. The bags were found to contain approximately 155 kilograms of methamphetamine, according to authorities.
The local sheriff’s office in Port Angeles estimated the total value of the drugs seized at US$7 million.
6 charged, 1 wanted Canada-wide in extortion against Edmonton’s South Asian community
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“From the standpoint of sheer volume of information our investigators reviewed, this was likely one of the largest investigations in the history of the EPS, resulting in substantial charges for all accused,” said Acting Insp. David Paton, with the EPS Organized Crime Branch.
On July 25, the EPS and the RCMP executed search warrants at six homes in Edmonton. Five men and a woman who are all believed to be connected to the incidents were also taken into custody.
Police say 19-year-old Jashandeep Kaur, 19-year-old Gurkaran Singh, 19-year-old Manav Heer, 21-year-old Parminder Singh, 19-year-old Divnoor Asht, and an unnamed 17-year-old boy are “all facing a host of serious criminal charges.” Those charges include:
Extortion; Arson; Intentionally discharging a firearm; Break and enter; Assault with a weapon;
As well as a number of charges linked to committing an offence for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal organization. Additionally, Canada-wide
warrants have been issued from 34-year-old Maninder Dhaliwal. Police believe Dhaliwal is the leader of the criminal organization responsible for the extortions.
At this time, Dhaliwal’s whereabouts are unknown. EPS say they are working with federal counterparts to locate him and it is believed he may have altered his appearance since the photo provided by police was taken.
“We believe that the individuals identified today represent the core members of this criminal network; however, we know Dhaliwal is actively recruiting other young people and we want parents, specifically from the South Asian community, to be aware and to have conversations with their young adults about the extortions and arsons that have been taking place,” said Paton.
Anyone who has information about Dhaliwal’s whereabouts is asked to contact police immediately at the Project Gaslight email at projectgaslight@edmontonpolice.ca or 780-391-4279 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477.
The EPS also notes that charges have only been laid in 26 of the 40 reported incidents connected to the series of extortions.
Pacific Island nations owe ‘astronomical’ debts to China. Can they repay?
It wasn’t long ago that rain would stop Martha Kapalu from travelling to the southern reaches of her island in Vanuatu. Tropical downpours would drench the dirt roads, making them hard for cars to pass — a common problem throughout the nation’s outer islands.
A new tar-sealed road, financed by a loan from China and completed in 2019, now connects Ms Kapalu’s home to other parts of Tanna island, including its south. “It’s helped us a lot. If we want to go someplace further away, it makes it more easy,” she said.
People growing fruit and vegetables use the road to take produce to the town market.
Visitors also use it on their way to Tanna’s major attractions, including Mount Yasur volcano, Ms Kapalu said.
The infrastructure project, funded through a $US63 million ($96 million) loan for road upgrades on Tanna and Malekula — another
Police
island of Vanuatu — was a beginning of sorts.
China has since lent the Pacific Island country money for other road upgrades, which have been celebrated locally for easing travel and promoting economic growth. But Vanuatu’s climbing debt levels, combined with economic shocks from natural disasters and a collapsed national airline, may weaken its appetite for more loans.
Over the past 20 years, China has become the largest lender in the Pacific.
Now Tonga, Vanuatu and Samoa are spending some of the biggest sums in the world to repay debts to China, as a proportion of their GDP, according to Lowy Institute analysis.
Tonga’s annual debt repayments to China are nearly 4 per cent of its GDP — the thirdhighest level in the world.
It’s a rate that Lowy research associate Riley Duke calls “astronomically high”.
prosecutor
A senior police prosecutor was granted bail by the Lautoka Magistrate’s Court yesterday for allegedly being in possession of white substances believed to be cocaine and methamphetamine earlier this week.
Corporal Mikaele Salele, who represented himself in court, appeared before Magistrate Joji Boseiwaqa. State lawyer Rukalesi Uce did not object to bail but requested strict conditions. She informed the court that disclosures have been served. Justice Boseiwaqa instructed Mr Salele to surrender his travel documents and not
out on bail
to interfere with the state witnesses.
He told the accused to also provide two sureties at his next court appearance. The matter has been adjourned to September 20.
Indian Guru claims is not in Fiji to collect money
Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, a spiritual guru from India who uses the name Bageshwar Dham Sarkar, told more than 7000 Fijians on Monday night that his not in Fiji to collect money in the name of religion.
While speaking at his first public session at Prince Charles Park, he said to collect money in the name of God was wrong.
“I left India with my mala, I didn’t leave India to earn money. Religion isn’t a business. I have come here to spread the name of Ram,” he said while speaking in Hindi.
“I had a discussion with the core organising committee and one thing that came up was people asking if they will need to pay for tickets.
a bill to pay them – when they are free, God is free too.” Mr Shastri said many people use his name to collect money.
“Until today, I haven’t established another organisation of mine outside of India and I haven’t opened any bank accounts in another country. I also don’t accept monies from outside of India.
“I won’t allow tickets in the name of God. Has the wind and the sun, which is free ever sent you
“But if I get it (money), that’s a different story. That doesn’t mean I don’t receive money.
“I don’t refuse, because I am a Brahman and Guru. So, if a disciple comes and gives money, I take it.
“Because that money will be used to treat cancer in India, assist poor families to wed their daughters, build a hospital.
“But my firm belief is that religion isn’t a business.”
About 10% of the population are grappling with chronic kidney disease – Ratu Wiliame
Approximately 10 percent of the Fijian population, or over 138,000 people are grappling with chronic kidney disease, according to a 2017 study published in the Lancet Global Health.
This has been highlighted by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere while officiating at the 2024 Nephrology Society of Fiji 7th Symposium where he says chronic kidney disease ranks as the fourth leading cause of death in Fiji, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
Ratu Wiliame says the World Health Organisation’s 2011 Fiji Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factor STEPS report indicates that diabetes affects 15.6 percent of our population, while adult obesity rates have soared an outstanding 30.2 percent.
He says these statistics demand our immediate action and underscore the critical need for
robust preventative strategies to combat the underlying causes for chronic kidney disease which often advances to end-stage renal disease and necessitates life-sustaining treatments like dialysis and kidney transplant.
The President says in Fiji, the incidence rate of end-stage kidney disease stands at 753 per million people, with a staggering 65.4 percent of these cases linked to diabetes. He says we must fortify our national health programs and our guidelines to ensure comprehensive and inclusive kidney health coverage. Ratu Wiliame says the introduction of hemo-dialysis in Fiji in 2008 has been a transformative milestone, sparking hope for those grappling with advanced kidney disease where this vital treatment has revolutionized how we care for Fijians, improving their quality of life and extending many lives.
Pakistani woman saving money for her hernia surgery dies by suicide after she gets inflated electricity bill
A 65-year-old woman, Razia Bibi suffering from a hernia, committed suicide after using her treatment money to pay an unexpected electricity bill, ARY News reported.
She had carefully set aside funds for her treatment, but the sudden bill left her with no other option, leading to a tragic sequence of events.
She had diligently saved money for her hernia operation.
However, when faced with an unexpected electricity bill of Pakistani currency (PKR) 10,000, she had no choice but to use her medical savings to settle the payment, as per ARY News. Following this, the son of Razia Bibi stated that his mother had gone out to buy medicine but
was deeply distressed over the financial setback, overcome by despair, she jumped into a nearby drain, as per the police officials.
“My mother was a hernia patient and had saved money for her operation, but after receiving the electric bill of Rs 10,000, she paid it with the money saved for her surgery and later committed suicide,” Usman said.
Razia Bibi’s daughter rushed to save her mother but was unsuccessful, while the local authorities are currently conducting a search operation to recover the woman’s body.
Footage of the incident leading up to the tragedy has emerged. Meanwhile, The Gujranwala Police have initiated an investigation into the incident.
Imran Khan’s party workers arrested from across Pakistan, prevented from demonstrations in Islamabad
Except in the Pakistani capital, party leaders and supporters of Imran Khan held demonstrations across the country where hundreds of workers were arrested on Friday while protesting the inflated electricity bills and demanding the former prime minister’s release from jail. After the government banned protests
in Islamabad, Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) approached the Islamabad High Court, urging it to order the administration to allow it to hold protests. The court, after hearing arguments, reserved its judgment.
The main opposition party, PTI, could not hold its much-publicised protest in the national capital after the government banned public gatherings. However, its ally, the rightwing Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), went ahead with its protest rally by defying the ban and claimed that police arrested several workers.
In Lahore, more than 150 workers of both parties were arrested by law enforcement agencies of the Punjab province. Khan, the 71-year-old PTI founder has been incarcerated at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi in multiple cases since August last year.
The Looming Showdown In Pakistan
The political situation in Pakistan is changing quickly. There is a high-stakes power struggle between former Prime Minister Imran Khan and the current government, which has the support of the military. It is putting the country’s fragile democracy at risk and has raised concerns about violence and civil unrest.
Khan, who was ousted in a 2022 no-confidence vote, has emerged as a formidable opposition leader who has rallied his supporters from jail and claims victory in the disputed 2024 elections. Plans to ban the PTI party could make Pakistan more of a dictatorship. Telling people they can’t support the PTI won’t make them like Imran Khan any less. It might make them like him more. And it could make Pakistan’s already shaky politics even worse.
military’s role in the country’s affairs. The court has proven that it can take an independent path rather than just approving the established power structures.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government is determined to maintain its grip on power and resist Khan’s demands. This clash of political wills could escalate into a full-blown crisis, with both sides unyielding in their positions. The stakes are high, as the outcome will shape the future of Pakistan’s hybrid democracy and its relationship with the international community.
The recent Supreme Court judgment in favor of PTI challenges the common perception of the judiciary as a compliant institution. Contrary to expectations, the court has shown it can make independent decisions that go against the military’s interests. This key ruling has far-reaching implications for the relationship between the government branches and the
Furthermore, the country is experiencing an acute economic crisis, with high inflation, increasing unemployment, and a weakening currency. The political instability is likely to make the financial risks even worse. Many people criticize the government for not managing the economy effectively and for protecting the interests of the rich. The government has made a deal for another IMF bailout program. It may help to make the country’s overall economy more stable, but it will also mean that the most vulnerable citizens will have to pay more taxes and higher power bills.
30 killed, 145 injured in clashes between two tribes
At least 30 people were killed and 145 others injured in armed clashes between two tribes fighting over a piece of land in Pakistan’s restive tribal district in northwest, officials said on Sunday. Officials said that heavy clashes started five days ago in Boshera village in Upper Kurram district, which has witnessed deadly conflicts among tribes and religious groups as well as sectarian clashes and militant attacks in the past.
Police said the tribal clashes left 30 people dead and 145 others injured in the last five days in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district, bordering Afghanistan.
Officials with the help of tribal elders, military leadership, police and district administration have brokered a truce between Shia and Sunni tribes in Boshera, Malikhel and Dandar areas a short while ago, police said.
For the first time, the Goods and Services Tax department has auctioned the property of the owner of an iron trader in Mandi Gobindgarh for the recovery of pending Value added tax. The auction was conducted by department officials, and many bidders took an interest in the property. Officials from the revenue department were also present at the auction.
Ludhiana Range Divisional Commissioner Randhir Kaur said it was for the first time that the GST department had to auction the property of the owner of the firm in Mandi Gobindgarh to recover VAT. She said there was a pending VAT of Rs 24,65,37,823 from 2008 to 2014 towards the iron merchant firm Diya Enterprises. She said the firm was issued notices many times; however, the firm owner’s property was put up for open bidding as there was no response from the owner. She said a 20-biswa warehouse property in the
name of the firm’s owner located on Amloh Road at Mandi Gobindgarh was auctioned. Officials said the bidding began at Rs 30 lakh and Karan Chawla placed the highest bid of Rs 1.03 crore.
Among the dignitaries present at the auction were Fatehgarh Sahib Assistant Commissioner Jitpal Kaur, state Tax Officer Charanjit Singh, Amanpreet Singh, Randhir Singh and Revenue Department Officer Tehsildar Jinsu Bansal.
Punjab and Haryana High Court directs Punjab to refund Rs 4.57 octroi duty levied on electricity supplied to Centre
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the State of Punjab to refund Rs 4.57 lakh to the Union of India, collected as octroi duty on electricity supplied to Military Engineering Services (MES) within the Patiala cantonment area. The Bench has ruled that the collection is in direct violation of Article 287 of the Constitution of India, which exempts the Government of India from paying taxes on the consumption or sale of electricity.
The ruling by the Division Bench of Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Jagmohan Bansal came on a petition filed in 2007 by the Union of India through central government counsel Tajeshwar Singh Sullar for refund of the octroi duty collected by Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) between 2000 and 2007. MES, responsible for electricity supply within the
cantonment, purchased electricity from PSEB, which then levied octroi on the electricity consumed, amounting to Rs 4, 57,342.
Sullar argued that the imposition of tax on electricity consumed by the Government of India or sold to it for consumption was in direct violation of Article 287 of the Constitution, unless specifically allowed by the Parliament. The petitioner pointed out PSEB had not levied octroi on other central government entities, such as Diesel Locomotive Works in Patiala, but had imposed the charge on MES — a part of the Ministry of Defence.
The Bench scrutinised the provisions of Article 287, which clearly exempted the Government of India from such taxes. The court noted that PSEB collected the octroi and deposited it with a local municipal body, despite being aware that such a levy was unconstitutional.
8 IAS officers, 4 HCS officers transferred in Haryana
The Haryana government on Thursday issued posting and transfer orders for eight IAS and four Haryana Civil Service (HCS) officers with immediate effect.
TVSN Prasad, a 1988 batch IAS officer, has been appointed the Chief Secretary of the state, according to an official release.
Prasad will also hold the charge of general administration, human resources, personnel and training, parliamentary affairs, vigilance departments and secretary in charge of plan coordination and Chief Resident Commissioner, Haryana Bhawan, New Delhi.
Prasad had been posted as the chief secretary on March 15 in place of Sanjeev Kaushal, who had proceeded on leave. Prasad, at that time, was posted as the chief secretary during the leave period of Kaushal. Kaushal, the 1986-batch IAS officer, retired on July 31.
According to the release, IAS officer Mani Ram Sharma has been posted as chief executive officer
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of Ayushman Bharat Haryana Health Protection Authority and Special Secretary of the home department.
Yash Pal, director of urban local bodies and special secretary of urban local bodies, has been given additional charge of director, consolidation of land holdings and land records, Haryana, and special secretary of revenue and disaster management department.
Shaleen has been posted as director, tourism and special secretary, tourism department.
Amna Tasneem has been posted as managing director, CONFED (Haryana State Federation of Consumer’s Cooperative Wholesale Stores Ltd) and secretary, Haryana State Commission for Scheduled Castes. Ram Kumar Singh has been posted as municipal commissioner, Ambala, and commissioner, municipal corporation, Ambala, while Sangeeta Tetarwal has been posted as labour commissioner, Haryana and special secretary, Labour Department.
arrests Congress leader and Punjab ex-minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu
The ED on Thursday arrested former Punjab minister and Congress leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu in a tender “scam”-linked money-laundering case, officials said.
Ashu, 53, was taken into custody after questioning at the zonal office of the federal agency here. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had raided the premises of Ashu, Raman Balasubramanium, a former chairman of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust, and some others in August 2023. The money-laundering investigation
stems from a Punjab Vigilance Bureau FIR related to the state government’s transportation and labour cartage policy of 2021 and complaints related to a Ludhiana Improvement Trust “scam” regarding allotment of plots to bogus persons. It was alleged that the tenders “were allotted to contractors who approached the minister (Ashu) through Rakesh Kumar Singla, chairman of CVC, Food and Civil Supplies”, the ED had said. Ashu is a former minister of food and civil supplies in the Punjab government.
CBI files first charge sheet in alleged NEET exam paper leak case, names 13 people as accused
The CBI has filed its first charge sheet in the alleged NEET UG examination paper leak case naming 13 people as accused, officials said on Thursday.
The charge sheet lists that the accused were allegedly involved in the paper leak and other irregularities, they said.
The CBI has kept the probe open, they said.
The central probe agency, which is investigating the alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam, has lodged six FIRs. The FIR from Bihar pertains to paper leak while the remaining ones from Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra are
regarding impersonation of candidates and cheating.
The agency’s own FIR on a reference from the Union education ministry pertains to a “comprehensive investigation” into the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024.
The NEET-UG is conducted by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions.This year, the exam was conducted on May 5 at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 abroad. More than 23 lakh candidates appeared for the test.
China conveys “heartfelt appreciation” to Indian Navy for rescuing injured Chinese mariner
China on Thursday conveyed its “heartfelt appreciation” to the Indian Navy for rescuing a critically injured Chinese mariner from a cargo ship off the Mumbai coast and providing him with timely medical treatment.
The critically injured 51-year-old Chinese mariner, who reportedly suffered heavy blood loss, was airlifted by an Indian naval helicopter amid choppy waters and strong winds from a bulk carrier approximately 370 km from Mumbai (200 nautical miles) and provided medical care on July 24. “The Indian side swiftly came to his rescue and provided him with timely medical treatment. He is now in stable condition and recovering back in China,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a media briefing here responding to a question from the official Chinese media.
“Chinese side expresses its heartfelt appreciation to all the departments and personnel of the Indian side who overcame challenging conditions on the scene and carried out this humanitarian operation,” Lin said.
The Indian Navy helicopter airlifted the critically injured Chinese mariner from a Panama-flag-bearing bulk carrier ‘Zhong Shan Men’ in the wee hours and transported to an air station and subsequently shifted to a hospital for further medical management. Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mumbai coordinated the operation with the Indian Navy for the timely evacuation of the patient, notwithstanding the border standoff at the Line of Actual Control with China.
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student has transformed dementia care worldwide
In the summer of 2018, young Hemesh Chadalavada embarked on a heartwarming journey filled with cherished memories spent with his beloved grandmother, Jayasree, in their family home in Guntur, southern India. The days were adorned with endless movies and the exquisite aroma of her chicken biryani wafting through the air. At the tender age of 12, Hemesh experienced a moment that would shape his future, a moment of sheer panic and realization that would drive him towards a remarkable mission.
On that fateful evening, while Hemesh sat engrossed in front of the television, Jayasree, then 63, left the room to make a cup of tea. Little did she know that her world, and Hemesh’s, were about to change.
As Hemesh ventured into the kitchen, he discovered a gas stove left on, a seemingly innocuous oversight. But for Jayasree, it was a stark reminder of the relentless grip of Alzheimer’s disease.
“She had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s but I was still in shock. What would have happened if I hadn’t been there?” Hemesh recalls, his voice tinged with the gravity of the situation.
Alzheimer’s, a cruel and unforgiving affliction, had stolen away the vibrant and dynamic woman that Jayasree once was. In her prime, she had navigated the corridors of power as a civil servant, engaging with top politicians and policymakers in the state of Telangana. However, the relentless
India
cancels
march of Alzheimer’s had transformed her into someone unrecognizable. “She used to get up at 3 or 4 in the morning and go outside, thinking she was on a train,” Hemesh shares, his words underscoring the heartbreaking nature of the disease. Yet, amidst the turmoil of Jayasree’s diagnosis, Hemesh found a calling, a purpose
that would drive him to make a difference. As a self-confessed nerd from Hyderabad with a passion for robotics, he embarked on a mission to invent a device that could provide assistance to individuals grappling with Alzheimer’s, much like his grandmother.
Fast forward to the present day, and at the age of 17, Hemesh Chadalavada is on the cusp of transforming his vision into reality. He is preparing to manufacture a groundbreaking device, the Alpha Monitor, designed to detect when individuals with Alzheimer’s fall or wander away from their caregivers. What sets this innovation apart is its ability to operate beyond the confines of traditional devices.
India’s diplomatic relations with Türkiye have reportedly taken a significant downturn following reports that the Turkish government has imposed a moratorium on the export of arms and defense items to India. This development surfaced during a recent session of the Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs committee, where a senior government official revealed the decision. The move by Türkiye follows the cancellation of a significant shipbuilding contract by the Indian Navy, which had been previously awarded to a Turkish shipyard.
Suspension of defense exports
Mustafa Murat Seker, a defense procurement official, confirmed that the Turkish government had suspended defense exports to India. Speaking to lawmakers, Seker elaborated, “India is one of the world’s top five arms importers, a massive market, importing close to $100 billion. However, due to our political circumstances and our friendship with Pakistan, our Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not give positive feedback on exporting any defense-related products to India, and consequently, we do not grant any permits to our companies in this regard.”
Cancelled shipbuilding contract
In April, India terminated a lucrative shipbuilding consultancy agreement with Türkiye’s Anadolu Shipyard, part of the TAIS consortium. The $2 billion deal involved
constructing five Fleet Support Ships (FSS) for the Indian Navy at India’s Hindustan Shipyard, with technology and engineering support from Anadolu. India chose to have the vessels built locally, without Turkish participation. Officially, India cited its policy to boost local shipbuilding capacity as the reason for the termination, but it is widely believed that India’s discomfort with Türkiye’s close ties to Pakistan played a significant role.
The recent developments between India and Türkiye are part of a broader pattern of strategic alliances and rivalries. Over the past few years, Pakistan has sought to strengthen its ties with non-Arab Muslim-majority countries like Azerbaijan and Türkiye. In response, India has strategically engaged with these countries’ rivals, such as Armenia, Cyprus, and Greece. This geopolitical chess game is particularly evident in the relationships between TürkiyeGreece and Azerbaijan-Armenia.
Pakistan’s ties with Azerbaijan
Similarly, Pakistan has extended its support to Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia. Islamabad has reportedly decided to supply the Azerbaijani forces with JF-17 aircraft, jointly developed with China. This support has been noticed by India, which has reacted by strengthening its ties with Armenia. Azerbaijan’s ties with Pakistan are underpinned by mutual interests and shared strategic goals.
British Sikh MP Jeevun Sandher wants to boost Labour’s India ties
Jeevun Sandher, one of Britain’s newest members of Parliament elected in the Labour Party’s landslide general election victory earlier this month, is determined to restore trust in politics and strengthen his party’s connection with India and its diaspora communities.
The British Sikh MP was elected from Loughborough in the East Midlands. “From a personal perspective, I am a part of the Indian
diaspora so I see it as a natural connection, for the Labour Party and the incoming Labour government,” he said. “It is a hugely important strategic partnership for us, which is why (Foreign Secretary David) Lammy has gone out there to stress that it is an incredibly important partnership for us in the region and globally,” he said. Sandher was born in Luton to parents who migrated from Punjab.
Pakistan using terrorism, proxy war to stay relevant, says India PM Modi
NEW DELHI – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 26 said Pakistan is trying to stay relevant through “terrorism” and “proxy war”, but its “unholy plans” will never succeed.
The nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours share an uneasy relationship and India has, for decades, accused Pakistan of backing Islamist militants fighting its rule in Kashmir, the Himalayan region both claim in full but rule only in part.
Pakistan denies the accusations, saying it provides only diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris seeking self-determination in the Muslim-majority region.
Mr Modi said Pakistan was humiliated whenever it tried to further its plans, but had “not learnt anything from its history”.
Mr Modi’s comments came at an event to mark the 25th anniversary of India’s short military conflict with Pakistan in the Himalayan region of Kargil. The arch rivals have also fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir.
They also came in the aftermath of a spate of militant attacks in the Hindu-majority Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir – as the territory is formally called – with almost a dozen Indian soldiers killed this year.
“I want to tell these patrons of terrorism that their unholy plans will never be successful... Our brave (forces) will squash terrorism, the enemy will be given a befitting reply,” he said.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
India-Pakistan relations have been largely frozen as the two countries downgraded their diplomatic ties in tit-for-tat moves in August 2019, after New Delhi scrapped Kashmir’s special status and split it into two federally administered territories. Ties were further strained after a suicide bombing of an Indian military convoy in Kashmir was traced to Pakistan-based militants, prompting India to carry out an air strike on what it said was a militant base in Pakistan. Earlier in 2024, Pakistan said there was credible evidence linking Indian agents to the killing of people on its soil –accusations that India termed “fake”.
Kamala Harris’ presidential bid is being cheered on in her ancestral village in India
In the village in southern India where some of her ancestors lived, Kamala Harris’ race for the White House has led to celebrations — and some reflections.
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
Celebrations in southern India over a political development on the other side of the planet. Omkar Khandekar went to the village that some of Kamala Harris’ ancestors call home.
OMKAR KHANDEKAR, BYLINE: At a small temple in southern India, about 1,600 miles from the capital, Delhi, a priest is praying for the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
NATARAJAN: Kamala Harris (non-English language spoken).
KHANDEKAR: Priest Natarajan says, “May Kamala Harris win this election. May she visit this temple and do good for our village.” We are in Thulasendrapuram, a tiny village of 2,000 people surrounded by rice fields. This is the ancestral village of Kamala Harris, where her grandfather was born decades ago. Harris has never been here. She hasn’t even mentioned it in her book or any public appearances. But when Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race earlier this week, local politician Arulmozhi Sudhakar started praying for her with milk and coconuts.
KHANDEKAR: Wearing a silk saree and sandalwood perfume, Arulmozhi tells NPR when she heard the news, she was as happy as when she had her first child. She calls Harris the daughter of the land.
ARULMOZHI SUDHAKAR: (Non-English language spoken).
KHANDEKAR: She says, “I can relate to Harris’ struggle as a woman politician and, most of all, for facing the challenges with a big smile.” But not everyone shares the same excitement as Arulmozhi. Political scientist Ashutosh Varshney says one shouldn’t read too much into Harris’ Indian roots.
ASHUTOSH VARSHNEY: Her Black identity is bigger than her Indian identity. And that’s only natural given where she grew up and what role electoral demography plays in democratic elections.
KHANDEKAR: Varshney says there’s also little evidence that, if elected the president, Harris will change Washington’s policy towards India.
VARSHNEY: The sweet spot India occupies is that so long as America and China are the primary adversaries, India will be seen by United States and the West as a very important ally.
KHANDEKAR: Back in her ancestral village, media attention has had unexpected benefits. Residents say after their village began appearing on TV, a local bank offered to invest in its infrastructure. And that’s why local librarian R Usha wants Harris to win and hopes she will visit the village one day.
R USHA: (Non-English language spoken).
KHANDEKAR: She says the roads near her neighborhood are in bad shape. If Harris comes, authorities would no doubt roll out the red carpet, and that would also cover the potholes. For NPR News, I’m Omkar Khandekar in Thulasendrapuram, southern India.
India’s new gas pipeline project unfrozen after six years
India will finally be able to resume work on its new gas pipeline project which will run through Afghanistan, after years of delays.
The TAPI project, which has been in development since it was first thought of in the 1990s, is supposed to transport natural gas from Turkmenistan to India through Afghanistan and Pakistan.
While the project has reached some milestones, with a ceremony to mark the official start of construction in Turkmenistan in 2015, it has faced multiple delays. This is largely due to insecurity in the
region, where geopolitical issues are often at play, reports the BBC Pashto. But, on Thursday, the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said construction for the pipeline would soon begin in Afghanistan.
Head of Foreign Affairs Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi said the project was a priority for the Taliban government, which took over Afghanistan in 2021.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared a photo of the Turkmen Ambassador Hoja Ovezov and Muttaqi.
