The Asian Star - June 15, 2024

‘Promotion

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of violence not acceptable in Canada’:

Minister of Public Safety on Khalistani supporters’ Indira Gandhi assassination posters

Promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada, a minister has said after posters depicting the assassination of India’s former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi were reportedly put up by Khalistan supporters in Vancouver.

An Indian-origin Canadian lawmaker also expressed concern over the issue, saying by doing so, the Khalistan supporters are trying to instil fear of violence in Hindu-Canadians.

“This week, there were reports of imagery depicting the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Vancouver,” Dominic A LeBlanc, the Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs said on X.

“The promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada,” he said. Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984.

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India’s heat wave longest ever, worse to come

India’s heat wave is the longest ever to hit the country, the government’s top weather expert said Monday as he warned people will face increasingly oppressive temperatures.

Parts of northern India have been gripped by a heat wave since mid-May, with temperatures soaring over 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit). “This has been the longest spell because it has been experienced for about 24 days in different parts of the country,” the head of India’s Meteorological Department (IMD), Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, said in an interview with the Indian Express daily. The mercury is expected to fall as the annual monsoon rains move north this month, but Mohapatra cautioned worse will follow.

“Heat waves will be more frequent, durable and intense, if precautionary or preventive measures are not taken,” he said.

India is the world’s third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases but has committed to achieve a net zero emissions economy by 2070 -- two decades after most of the industrialized West.

For now, it is overwhelmingly reliant on coal for power generation.

Canada’s Parliament rocked by allegations of treason

The capital of one of the world’s most stable democracies is gripped by growing panic about foreign agents working in elected office. A bombshell report by Canadian lawmakers has unnerved Parliament Hill, alleging that unnamed politicians have been covertly working with foreign governments.

The revelation in heavily redacted findings released this week by an all-party national security committee adds intrigue to a separate and ongoing inquiry into foreign interference in Canada’s 2019 and 2021 elections.

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BC premier ‘confused’ on reason for Quebec immigration

funding

Immigration Marc Miller says he believes B.C. Premier David Eby is “confused” on why Quebec is getting $750 million to help pay for a surge in temporary residents, namely for asylum seekers.

That comes after Eby suggested federal funding was being “showered” on Quebec after an offering announced on Monday.

“I think perhaps there was some confusion on the premier’s behalf as to what this money was for.... It’s to compensate Quebec for two fiscal years of costs they’ve incurred with respect to the disproportionate flow of asylum seekers,” Miller said Tuesday following the cabinet meeting in Ottawa.

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Who Was Yuvraj Goyal, The 28-Year-Old Sales Executive Murdered In Canada

A 28-year-old Indian-origin man from Punjab’s Ludhiana was shot dead in Surrey, Canada on Friday. The police have taken four suspects into custody and charged them with first-degree murder on Saturday.

Investigators say preliminary probe suggests that this was a case of targeted shooting but they are still working to determine the reasons behind Yuvraj Goyal’s killing.

All about Yuvraj Goyal: Yuvraj migrated to Canada in 2019 on a student visa and recently obtained his Canadian Permanent Resident (PR) status, marking a significant milestone in his aspirations for a better future.

firewood business, while his mother, Shakun Goyal, dedicated her time to homemaking.

Prior to his relocation, Yuvraj completed his Bachelor of Commerce (Honors) from Delhi University. Yuvraj was known to have no criminal record.

The four suspects arrested for Yuvraj’s murder are - 23-yearold Manvir Basram of Surrey, 20-year-old Sahib Basra of Surrey, 23-year-old Harkirat Jhutty of Surrey, and 20-year-old Keilon Francois of Ontario.

An unemployed, homeless drug user who posed as a police officer to rob an elderly woman in her Mount Pleasant home was sentenced to 12 years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to manslaughter in B.C. Supreme Court.

He was working as a sales executive. He hailed from a modest family background in Ludhiana. His father, Rajesh Goyal, runs a

In a statement, Sergeant Timothy Pierotti of Canada’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said, “We’re thankful for the hard work of the Surrey RCMP, Air 1, and IERT, but there is still more work to be done. IHIT investigators remain dedicated to determining why Mr Goyal was the victim of this homicide.”

Pascal Bouthillette, 44, appeared by video and couldn’t be seen by those in the public gallery after the judge pronounced sentence but could be heard to say “thank you” after Justice Kathleen Ker wished him well. Bouthillette had been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Usha Singh, 78, who lived alone in her Mount Pleasant home that she had fortified with a locked metal gate on the

front door and security cameras in and outside, according to security footage shown in court.

Bouthillette and his coaccused, Sandy Parisian, who was earlier sentenced to seven years in prison for his manslaughter plea, were recorded on video on the porch wearing jackets with “police” on the back, telling Singh they were cops who were there to investigate an earlier robbery. During the robbery, Singh was beaten and her hands tied with zip ties. She was left on the bathroom floor while the pair ransacked her house. Police found her alive hours later after a concerned friend requested a wellness check. She died days later in hospital.

Premier David Eby is expanding his criticism of what he says is an unfair share of federal funding being given to Western Canada.

Eby says Ottawa’s “special treatment for Quebec and Ontario” eventually gets “to be too much” and it’s “disingenuous” for federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller to suggest that B.C.’s concerns are simply about asylum seekers. Eby and Miller have traded comments this week since the premier suggested at the Western Premiers’ Conference on Monday that Ottawa was “showering” Ontario and Quebec

with money, after offering Quebec a $750 million deal to help with immigration concerns.

Miller responded that British Columbia needs to step up and take in more asylum seekers who come to Canada.

Political-watchers say the premier’s tough talk is likely linked to the upcoming provincial election and a desire to be seen as separate from the unpopular federal Liberals.

Eby said in a statement Wednesday that it was “disingenuous to say this is about asylum seekers.”

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Canadian border officials say a British Columbia man is facing a raft of drug-trafficking and weapons charges after the discovery of three illegal firearm suppressors at the Vancouver International Airport. Seven months later, CBSA investigators and an emergency response team executed search warrants on a home and two vehicles in Nanaimo. Officers seized from the property two loaded and prohibited “ghost guns,” a prohibited shotgun, a restricted rifle with a suppressor, nine over-capacity magazines and a pair of non-restricted rifles, according to a statement Thursday from the CBSA. The agency said investigators also seized 335 grams

of cocaine, 119 grams of methamphetamine, 15 grams of MDMA, 10 grams of psilocybin and 22 electronic devices.

“The Canada Border Services Agency is committed to keeping prohibited firearms and firearm parts out of our country and protecting our communities,” Nina Patel, Pacific region director for the CBSA, said in the statement. We continue to investigate those who attempt to bring these items into Canada and work alongside our policing partners to hold them accountable.”

The border agency said Ranger is currently in custody and the investigation is ongoing.

Bank CEOs defend investments in oil and gas

The chief executives from Canada’s five biggest banks faced hard questions from MPs on Thursday over their climate commitments and plans to help spur transition to renewable energy.

Representatives from RBC, CIBC, TD Bank Group, BMO Financial Group and Scotiabank appeared Thursday before the standing committee on environment and sustainable development. All five attended by video conference, avoiding an in-person hearing.

NDP MP Matthew Green took aim at David McKay, the head of RBC, the country’s largest bank, for “touting” his climate record, while “continuing to be one of the largest financiers of fossil fuels in the world.”

“This is a transition,” McKay said in response.

“It’s a complex transition. We are not getting off fossil-based fuels immediately. To just stop is not an option for us. We have to commit to

finding green sources of energy.”

Canadian banks have been criticized for how slow that transition has been, given that they remain among the largest financiers of oil, gas and coal globally. A recent report calculated that Canada’s top banks pumped a combined $103.85 billion US into fossil fuel projects in 2023.

The five largest banks have made both shortand long-term emissions reduction targets, including net-zero financed emissions by 2050, but faced questions about whether those are on track.

NDP MP who’s rarely on Parliament Hill billed taxpayers for travel with family over Christmas

An NDP MP who frequently joins parliamentary proceedings remotely from her riding billed the House of Commons for a trip she took to reportedly meet with “stakeholders” over the Christmas holidays in Quebec — travel that included bringing her husband and kids along at taxpayers’ expense.

Parliamentary travel records indicate NDP MP Niki Ashton was only in Ottawa on one occasion for four days during the fall 2022 sitting.

But on Dec. 21 of that year, Ashton flew from Thompson, Man. to Ottawa — five days after the House of Commons had already risen for its Christmas break.

Ashton’s partner Bruce Moncur, a former NDP

nomination candidate, and their two children also made the trip with the MP to the nation’s capital. Then, on Christmas Day, 2022, the family of four travelled to Quebec City. Ashton billed the Commons for some of the expenses they incurred along the way. Social media posts show Moncur and the children took in some of Quebec City’s winter attractions, including an ice slide and snow tubing at Village Vacances Valcartier outside the city centre. Ashton is also seen in those posts skating with her children and visiting the city’s German Christmas Market.

In an Instagram post, Ashton thanked “progressive activists” for sharing their “inspiring work.”

Sunita Williams’ Stay Aboard Space Station Extended; NASA Announces Return Date

Astronaut Sunita Williams, who launched to the International Space Station (ISS) last week, will spend a few more days aboard the orbiting lab.

Her planned week-long stay has been extended by a few days and she will be making her return to Earth no earlier than June 18, NASA announced today. She flew to space on June 5 with astronaut Barry Wilmore in Boeing’s debut crew mission onboard the Starliner spacecraft.

Williams became the first woman to test a new spacecraft and visited the space station for the first time in 12 years in her third spaceflight. It is the third ISS mission for Wilmore as well after his previous trips in 2009 and 2014.

“Ahead of turning their attention to space station support, the crew worked in partnership with Boeing engineers and flight control teams

on the ground to efficiently tick through more flight test objectives and operational capability checkouts of the spacecraft,” Boeing said in a statement.

Williams and Wilmore are currently testing and evaluating Starliner while it is docked to the station. On June 8, the crew completed the safe haven demonstration to validate that Starliner can function as a habitat if the space station is passing a debris cloud or faces some other issue.

Man charged in stabbing death of popular Vancouver chef

A man has been charged in the stabbing death of a popular chef. Vancouver police announced Wednesday that Timothy Isborn, 32, had been charged with one count of second-degree murder.

At around 3:30 a.m. on June 5, Wataru Kakiuchi, a Japanese citizen and a chef at a downtown restaurant , was reportedly waiting for a ride in Chinatown when he was attacked near Main and Union streets.

Kakiuchi died before he could be taken to hospital. Following a six-day investigation, police said a suspect was arrested in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside on Monday afternoon.

“We thank everyone in the community for their support while we worked around the clock to collect the evidence that ultimately led to the suspect,” said Sgt. Steve Addison. “Evidence gathered by our investigators, along with information from the

public, was integral to us making this arrest.” Police say Kakiuchi and Isborn didn’t know each other but didn’t elaborate if there had been any interaction leading up to the attack.

According to Addison, Isborn previously lived in Alberta before moving to B.C. He has no criminal history in B.C. and isn’t known to Vancouver police.

According to Yoshihiro Tanabe, who worked with the victim at Hapa Izakaya’s former location in Coal Harbour, Kakiuchi was warm and had a fun personality, and was a guitarist.

“He can make a good mood in the kitchen,” Tanabe told Postmedia News through his wife.

“Nice guy … so fun,” he added, fighting back emotion.

Investigators continue to probe the stabbing and anyone with information is asked to contact homicide police at 604-717-2500.

Officer shot in deadly B.C. bank shootout details the attack 2 years later

Two years after a deadly gun battle between police and a pair of heavily armed assailants stunned the community of Saanich, B.C., one of the officers who was critically injured in the shootout is speaking about it publicly for the first time.

Saanich police Const. Steven Reichert and six other members of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team spent the morning of June 28, 2022, running a security operation for a Victoria police surveillance unit as it gathered intelligence for a drug-trafficking investigation.

driver,” Reichert told CTV News on Friday.

Just after 11 a.m., the team leader got a text message from an operations commander, telling the unit to switch their radios to the Saanich police channel for “some sort of an armed robbery or some sort of a firearms call,” the seven-year veteran of the GVERT said.

“We learned that there was two suspects,” he recalled. “We heard information they were both in possession of long rifles and they were both wearing balaclavas.”

The van began rolling north out of Victoria

on scene as they tried to establish a perimeter and control traffic outside the Bank of Montreal branch on Shelbourne Street.

Moments earlier, 22-year-old brothers Mathew and Isaac Auchterlonie had driven their car loaded with weapons and explosives into the bank parking lot and entered the building wearing windbreakers over olive-green body armour, each carrying an SKS rifle with an extended magazine.

The GVERT van drove north past the bank so the team could get a look at what was happening.

“The information we had was the two suspects were inside, we had a number of civilians, and so around that time of our arrival, the call was classified as a hostage-taking,” Reichert said.

The driver parked the van just out of sight of the bank where the team could set up and form a plan.

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Time to end taxpayer-funded bonuses for failure

Taxpayer-funded bonuses have totalled over $1.5 billion since 2015

Welcome to Ottawa, A.K.A the land of limitless bonuses, where taxpayer cash is plentiful and no failure is left unrewarded.

The feds dished out $406 million in bonuses in 2023 – $195 million to bureaucrats in Crown corporations and $211 million to bureaucrats in federal departments.

Bureaucrats working in federal departments have raked in more than $1.5 billion in taxpayer-funded bonuses since 2015. Every year, about 90 percent of government executives receive a bonus, for an average of about $18,000. What have these government executives done to deserve a bonus?

“Less than 50 percent of (performance) targets are consistently met within the same year,” according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

In the real world, when you can’t even meet half of your own performance targets, you should polish up your resume, not expect an $18,000 bonus cheque.

But Ottawa isn’t the real world.

Here are the government’s performance results for the past five years. In every year but one, federal departments didn’t meet half of their targets. In 2022, government departments managed to meet 50.3 percent of their targets. No matter, bonuses anyway!

Rewarding failure with bonuses is also common practice in federal Crown corporations. The Bank of Canada’s mandate is to keep inflation around “two percent inside a control range of one to three percent.”

In 2021, inflation was 3.4%. The Bank of Canada handed out more than $18 million in bonuses. In 2022, inflation reached 6.8 percent, representing “a 40-year high, the largest increase since 1982,” according to Statistics Canada. The Bank of Canada handed out more than $20 million in bonuses.

Minimum wage, workers’ compensation coming to B.C. ride-hail, app delivery workers

App-based ride-hailing and food delivery workers in B.C. will soon be covered by minimum wage measures and workers’ compensation.

The province has completed new regulations covering the so-called “gig work” sector, which will take effect on Sept. 3.

The new regulations will set a minimum wage for “engaged time” along with a minimum per-kilometre vehicle allowance to compensate workers for expenses.

The minimum wage of $20.88 will only apply to periods when a worker has accepted an assignment and not to downtime between jobs. The regulations will also bring app-based workers under the purview of WorkSafeBC.

Companies will be required to let workers see the locations and pay estimates for individual jobs before they accept them through the app, and will be legally required to ensure workers get 100 per cent of tips.

And the regulations will require companies

to tell workers why they have been suspended or deactivated from a platform. Workers who are cut off without cause must be given notice or compensation.

The new rules will cover people working through third-party apps like Uber, Lyft and DoorDash, but won’t cover other types of gig workers such as freelance writers, musicians or dog walkers.

The province estimates there are about 11,000 ride-hailing workers and 35,000 delivery workers in B.C.

Vancouver police arrest 5 Quebec gang members, seize drugs, guns

Five men who investigators claim are part of a gang from Quebec have been arrested, the Vancouver Police Department says, after a bust netted drugs, guns, and cash.

The VPD says after a 14-month-long investigation into the Zone 43 gang, police seized 24 kilograms of illicit drugs, including seven kgs of fentanyl, 11 kgs of cocaine, two kgs of methamphetamine, and four kgs of “mixing agents.” Police add officers also seized two handguns and more than $150,000 in cash.

“These impressive results are the direct result

of the dedication and professionalism of our investigators and civilian professionals. Our staff is committed to combatting organized crime groups operating in our community, especially those from other jurisdictions that seek to establish operations in Vancouver and profit from the sale of toxic drugs,” Insp. Phil Heard said in a statement Tuesday.

Police say the five men “and others identified in the investigation” will face “numerous drug and criminal charges when the investigation is complete.”

Calls for B.C. auditor general to review wastewater plant fiasco

A group of municipal politicians is calling for a review into how a North Shore wastewater treatment plant went billions over budget.

Seven city councillors from across the Lower Mainland want auditor general Michael Pickup to investigate the cost overruns.

The currently unfinished project by Metro Vancouver was initially pegged at $500 million but that’s gone up to nearly $4 billion.

The councillors said taxpayers saddled with paying that bill deserve to know what went wrong and the auditor general has the authority to investigate. “There has to be some

responsibility,” Kash Heed, a Richmond city councillor, told Global News. “Proper figures going forward.”

To pay for the project, Metro Vancouver voted to divide the costs across the region.

North Shore homeowners will pay the most, an extra $590 per year on their utility bills for 30 years.

“We only have one taxpayer here in British Columbia. We don’t have a multi-pot of money that we can depend on to cover these projects. So at the end of the day, the accountability has to be put in place,” Heed added.

Household disposable incomes grew faster than debt in Q1, StatCan says

Statistics Canada says the amount Canadians owe relative to their income in the first quarter edged lower compared with the fourth quarter of 2023 as growth in household disposable income outpaced the growth in debt.

The agency says household credit market debt as a proportion of household disposable income was 176.4 per cent in the first three months of

the year on a seasonally adjusted basis.

The result compared with 178.0 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2023.

In other words, there was $1.76 in credit market debt for every dollar of household disposable income in the first quarter of 2024.

Meanwhile, the household debt service ratio, measured as total obligated payments of principal and interest on credit market debt as a proportion of household disposable income, was 14.91 per cent in the first quarter of 2024 compared with 14.98 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2023.

The move came as household disposable income rose 1.9 per cent, while debt payments increased 1.4 per cent.

Boyfriend sentenced to life in prison for murder of Ashley Simpson

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The boyfriend of slain Salmon Arm, B.C., woman Ashley Simpson has been sentenced to life in prison, with no chance of parole for 12 years, after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.

Derek Favell was sentenced on Wednesday afternoon after pleading guilty to the killing last October.

In 2016, Simpson, 32, went missing from a rural property near Salmon Arm — a southern Interior community around 75 kilometres east of Kamloops, B.C. — where she was living with Favell, her boyfriend at the time.

read out victim impact statements detailing how their daughter was taken in a “brutal and senseless killing.”

Simpson was far away from her family in St. Catharines, Ont., when she was killed in 2016. Favell dumped her body down a slope, the court heard. Her remains were found after Favell confessed the crime to an undercover officer.

“As a family, we shed enough tears to fill a lake,” Cindy Simpson, Ashley’s mother, told the courtroom.

“She was the one bright light in my life, and now it has dimmed.”

Her remains were discovered in a wooded area outside Salmon Arm in late 2021, and Favell was charged with second-degree murder a week later. Justice Alison Beames announced the sentence in a Salmon Arm courtroom on Wednesday after Simpson’s father and mother

Simpson was one of five women reported missing in the North Okanagan-Shuswap region between 2016 and 2017 — a fact that, along with consistent awareness efforts from her family, kept her story in the media over the years despite little word of progress from RCMP investigators.

Canada’s South Asian diaspora follows Indian election with interest as Modi forced to rely on allies

Ganesh Patil stayed up until 3 a.m. Tuesday morning watching the results of the election in India from his home in Ottawa. His phone dinged constantly – non-stop messages from the Indo-Canadian Facebook and WhatsApp grou dames gummy co ps he belongs to, their members passionately debating the results.

“With what we’ve just experienced, with the government clashes and the shutdown of consulates, it directly affects our lives,” said Mr. Patil, who immigrated to Canada from Maharashtra state popcorn weed 12 years ago.

As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi won a historic third term Tuesday – albeit with just 240 seats, forcing his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party to rely on coalition allies to secure a majority – Mr. Patil was just one of thousands in Canada’s vast South Asian diaspora following along with ardent interest. And for Indo-Canadians like him, the tensions between Canada and India have only increased their interest in the politics of their native country.

Last year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accused India in the killing of Canadian Sikh separatist Hardeep mail order dispensary vancouver Singh Nijjar, sparking a major diplomatic rift between the two countries. India denied the accusation, and the year since has seen escalating tension between Ottawa and New Delhi, including India abruptly suspending visa services for Canadians.

Trudeau congratulates Modi reelection, raises rule of law in India relationship. India has since resumed some of those services, but not without first disrupting the lives of weed stores near me the many Canadians who had to cancel travel plans to India to attend weddings, funerals and family reunions.

“We’re all just sort of holding our breaths, waiting,” said Ravi Jain, a Toronto-based immigration lawyer.

“These leaders just don’t like each other,” he said. “As long as Modi’s in power a weed stores near me nd Trudeau’s in power, it’s going to have an impact on this very important relationship.”

Trial opens for man charged with B.C. murders of gangster and innocent teen

Six years after a Coquitlam teenager was killed by a stray bullet during a gangland hit in Vancouver, his accused murderer is finally on trial.

Day 1 of the double murder trial in B.C. Supreme Court heard Alfred Wong, 15, let out a yell from the back seat of the family vehicle as he was shot in the chest as his mother, Chelly Wong, drove east on Broadway around Ontario Street after a family dinner out.

Crown prosecutor Don Montrichard said in his opening remarks Monday that Alfred’s mother, confused by her son’s scream, continued driving for almost another block before realizing something was wrong and pulling over.

Carter Kane, 28, is charged with the seconddegree murders of both the 15-year-old and Kevin Whiteside, 23. He is also charged with aggravated assault of a second passerby, who missed getting killed by millimetres by another stray bullet that grazed his cheek.

Dashcam footage from the family’s car that captured Alfred’s scream is expected to be played during the trial. The trial is scheduled for 115 days and will likely run until November.

Kane has pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

It’s the Crown’s theory that Kane shot the gun that killed Alfred and Whiteside and almost killed Shaiful Khondroker.

During breaks in the trial Monday, Kane turned and grinned at his supporters in the public gallery.

Montrichard conceded the Crown’s case is “almost entirely built on circumstantial evidence” because the only possible witness, Whiteside, was killed, the shootings weren’t captured on CCTV footage in the area, and the murder weapon has never been found. It took four years for charges to be laid.

Attempted robbery, assault leaves 1 injured at UBC: RCMP

Police are looking for witnesses to an assault and attempted robbery at the University of British Columbia’s Point Grey campus on Wednesday. In a media release, University RCMP said officers were called to a reported assault with a weapon near the Rose Garden parkade around 1:30 p.m.

One victim was taken to hospital and is expected to survive, however, police weren’t able to locate the suspect.

“Initial information is that there was an attempted robbery which led to an altercation where one person was injured,” Mounties said.

Anyone who saw the incident or has video recorded in the area at the time is asked to contact University RCMP at 604-224-1322.

Cineplex, Willow TV and Ethnicity Matters partner to Screen ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Matches Across Canada

Cricket fans across Canada are in for a treat as Cineplex, Willow TV and Ethnicity Matters come together to present the live screenings of select ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 matches. The matches will be shown in 19 cities, bringing the excitement of international cricket to the big screen.

The upcoming edition of the International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be held from June 1 to June 29 in the United States and the Caribbean.

The Canada’s Men’s National Team will be participating in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, for the first time and have been grouped with India, Pakistan, Ireland and the United States in Group A.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 match screenings will focus on Group A match ups and include live screenings of the semifinals and championship final on June 29.

Why cricket is important

The landscape of Canadian sports is evolving, with cricket emerging as a major contender. Boasting a dedicated fan base of over 3 million and engaging 300,000 participants nationwide, cricket is now played in all of Canada’s 10 provinces.

This growth mirrors the multicultural vibrancy of the country, as communities come together to celebrate their shared passion for the game. Cineplex’s screenings of the ICC Men’s T20 2024 World Cup matches underscore this momentum, bringing the thrill of world-class cricket to audiences across Canada.

Willow TV: “We are thrilled to bring the action of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 to cricket enthusiasts in Canada. This collaboration with Cineplex and Ethnicity Matters allows us to offer an unparalleled viewing experience.” – Anurag

Bahl, Director - Business Strategy, Partnerships & Revenue

Cineplex: “Cineplex is thrilled to bring cricket fans together to see the matches on the big screen with big sound. Fans can cheer on their favourite teams from the best seats in the house, close to home.” – Matt DeVuono, Executive Director, Event Cinema, Cineplex

Ethnicity Matters: “Our goal has always been to celebrate diversity and connect communities through shared experiences. This initiative with Cineplex and Willow TV brings the cricket community together, fostering a sense of unity and excitement. Cricket fans love to watch the big matches together and the screening opportunities provide another chance to enjoy collectively.” – Howard Lichtman, Partner and CoFounder Ethnicity Matters” – [Executive Name], [Title]

• Screening Schedule (all times in ET):

• Saturday, June 1 - Canada vs. USA, 8:30 PM

• Sunday, June 9 - India vs. Pakistan, 10:30 AM

• Tuesday, June 11 - Canada vs. Pakistan, 10:30 AM

• Saturday, June 15 - Canada vs. India, 10:30 AM

• Sunday, June 16 - Ireland vs. Pakistan, 10:30 AM

• Wednesday, June 26 - Semifinal 1, 8:30 PM

• Thursday, June 27 - Semifinal 2, 10:30 AM

• Saturday, June 29 - Championship Final, 10:00 AM

• Participating Theatres:

• Cineplex Cinemas Strawberry Hill, Surrey, BC

• Cineplex Cinemas Langley, Langley, BC

• Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver, Vancouver, BC

• SilverCity Riverport Cinemas, Richmond, BC

• Cineplex Cinemas Coquitlam and VIP, Coquitlam, BC

• Scotiabank Theatre Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB

• Cineplex Odeon Sunridge Spectrum Cinemas, Calgary, AB

• Cineplex Odeon South Edmonton Cinemas, Edmonton, AB

• Scotiabank Theatre Halifax, Halifax, NS

• Cineplex Cinemas Fairview Mall, Toronto, ON

• Cineplex Cinemas Courtney Park, Mississauga, ON

• Cineplex Cinemas Winston Churchill and VIP, Oakville, ON

• Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Dundas and VIP, Toronto, ON

• Cineplex Odeon Eglinton Town Centre Cinemas, Scarborough

• SilverCity Richmond Hill Cinemas, Richmond Hill, ON

• Cineplex Cinemas Vaughan, Woodbridge, ON

• SilverCity Brampton Cinemas, Brampton, ON

• Cineplex Cinemas Mississauga, Mississauga, ON

• Cinéma Cineplex Forum and VIP, Montreal, QC Tickets for each match screening can be purchased on Cineplex.com, the Cineplex App or in-theatre.

Vancouver spent more than $400K to clean up sanctioned homeless encampment

The recent cleanup and repairs to Vancouver’s only sanctioned homeless encampment at CRAB Park cost $416,900, according to a city councillor. That figure includes $50,000 from BC Housing for the city to engage non-profit housing provider Atira and fund the purchase of supplies and equipment. ABC Vancouver City Coun. Peter Meiszner said the total additional costs, in excess of daily operations in the park, for Jan. 26, and March 18 through April 24 were $366,900, including $293,200 in incremental costs and $73,700 for redeployed resources.

“I think it’s important that the public knows the cost of these unsafe encampments and why it’s so important that we do not allow them to become entrenched,” Meiszner said.

Multiple city departments including the Vancouver Park Board,; Engineering Services; Arts, Culture and Community Services and Vancouver Police were involved in the initiative.

It came after the city said the designated sheltering area of the waterfront CRAB Park had become unsafe, with propane tanks, human waste, rats and numerous illegally built structures erected on the site.

More than 90,000 kilograms of debris and material, 20 propane tanks and six generators were removed from the encampment during a major week-long cleanup that began in March. City crews used heavy equipment to clear and remediate the site before the people who registered as sheltering at the site were able to return on April 4. The city said the area was resurfaced with fresh gravel to improve drainage, and that it had set out 27 clearlydemarcated sheltering sites.

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The new report from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians is the first to suggest that lawmakers in Canada’s parliament may have helped foreign actors meddle in political campaigns and leadership races. Heightened anxiety in Ottawa about foreign interference comes in the middle of historic global elections where factors such as artificial intelligence and emboldened foreign powers are testing the resilience of democratic systems.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been on the defensive since the allegations broke Monday. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on the government to name names.

“The national security committee indicates there are members of this House that have knowingly worked for foreign hostile governments,” Poilievre said Wednesday.

“Canadians have a right to know who and what is the information — who are they?”

The findings put pressure on Canada’s national police force to investigate potential criminal charges. The report also refuels debate on the ability of the federal government’s deterrence mechanisms to curb foreign interference in a country whose political and legal system is considered one of the highest-performing in the world.

The all-party NSICOP said Monday that it has reviewed intelligence that suggests “semi-witting or witting” parliamentarians have worked with foreign missions to mobilize voters during a political campaign; have taken cash “knowingly or through willful blindness” from foreign missions or their proxies; and have shared privileged information with foreign diplomatic officials.

APPLIANCES REPAIR SERVICE

A driver injured when a rock crashed through her vehicle’s windshield last week on a Metro Vancouver highway has died.

B.C. Highway Patrol Cpl. Melissa Jongema confirmed that the vehicle’s 34-year-old female driver died of her injuries after the crash on June 6.

Police said a day after the crash on Highway 1 that a “large rock” had been recovered from the scene.

Jongema said police are still investigating where the rock may have come from, and no additional details have been released.

The crash happened in Burnaby, near the highway’s Willingdon exit,

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and police said previously that the driver was taken to hospital in critical condition. Police are still seeking witnesses and possible dashcam footage of the crash to help with the investigation.

Meanwhile, Indo-Canadian lawmaker Chandra Arya, who represents the electoral district of Nepean in the House of Commons of Canada, said: “Khalistan supporters in Vancouver with posters of Hindu Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi’s body with bullet holes with her bodyguards turned assassins holding their guns, are again attempting to instil fear of violence in Hindu-Canadians.

“This is a continuation of threats with a similar float in Brampton a couple of years back and a few months back (Gurpatwant Singh) Pannun of Sikhs for Justice asking Hindus to go back to India,” Arya, the lawmaker from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s party said.

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At the closing news conference for the Western Premiers’ Conference on Monday, Eby said federal immigration is being “showered” on Ontario and Quebec “at the expense” of Western Canada.

“And so to see a single-province agreement with Quebec, is an underlining of a sense of frustration that I heard around the table,” Eby said, suggesting Western provinces are “scrabbling around for what’s left over. It’s not acceptable.”

Quebec Premier François Legault had said the offer from Ottawa came after he asked for $1 billion to cover costs associated with a surge in temporary residents. Eby said Canadians are

Pannun is one of the main leaders of the Khalistan movement and the legal adviser and spokesperson for Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which aims to promote the idea of a separate Sikh state. Arya called on law enforcement agencies in Canada to take immediate action.

“With picture of guns readily being used to convey the message may lead to something real if this is left to continue unchallenged. The prominence of a bindi on the forehead of Indira Gandhi is to make doubly sure the intended targets are Hindus in Canada,” he said.

India has been asserting for a long that its “core issue” with Canada remained that of the space given to separatists, terrorists and anti-India elements in that country.

seeing resources go to Ontario and Quebec “at the expense, in my opinion, of the West.”

“That announcement today with Quebec, frankly, is the straw that broke this camel’s back,” he said on Monday.

“I cannot understand how that could happen. I cannot understand why we cannot get a per capita share at a minimum.”

Legault has previously said the number of temporary residents coming to the province — including asylum seekers, students and workers — had “exploded” to 560,000, a number he says doubled in two years, straining social services.

The Quebec government says 177,000 of the temporary residents are asylum seekers — representing 54 per cent of claimants in Canada.

Teachers to vote for possible strike over 30% pay increase demand

Teachers around the country will be taking a vote on the 6th of July on whether to go on strike as their demand for a 30 percent pay increase has not been met.

Fijian Teachers Association and Fiji Teachers Union Spokesperson Muniappa Goundar says they filed their mandate for industrial action with the Ministry of Labour on Tuesday and a copy has been given to the Ministry of

Education as well. Goundar says teachers on 6th July from 8am to 6pm will be voting at 16 different venues around the country. He says once they have the mandate, they will sit together and work out a possible date for strike if majority of the people vote for strike action.

Goundar says he is encouraging teachers to make their votes count.

Violence against women costs about 7% of Fiji’s GDP - UN Resident Coordinator

Violence against women is estimated to cost the Fijian economy around 7 percent of GDP.

This has been highlighted by UN Resident Coordinator to Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu Dirk Wagener while speaking during the commemoration of the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls Phase 1 and inauguration of Phase 2. He says this is an absolutely staggering number and it’s due to factors of health care, social services, and loss of income.

Wagener says it is imperative that they allocate substantial resources to end this violence and ensure the sustainability of the initiatives. He says government partners

and governments alike must integrate transformative gender indicators into all development sector plans, with strong monitoring and reporting in line with the Pacific leaders gender equality declaration.

The Resident Coordinator says likewise, the role of civil society organisations is crucial in the Pacific context.

He says they are essential in supporting women survivors of violence and maintaining their role as observers and monitors of the situation and the rights of women to live lives free of violence. Wagener adds men have to be champions for this cause because they have to speak to other men and lead as role models.

Assistant Corrections Commissioner Salote Panapasa charged by FICAC

Assistant Commissioner of Corrections Senior Superintendent Salote Panapasa has been charged by FICAC and will appear in the Suva Magistrates Court this morning. Panapasa has been charged with two counts of abuse of office and an alternative count of

general dishonesty – causing a loss. She was sent on leave last month. The Fiji Corrections Service had said that this was in reference to an investigation by FICAC. They also acknowledge that Assistant Commissioner of Corrections Panapasa is innocent until proven guilty.

Fiji Airways Eyes A350s to Replace Aging A330 Fleet

Fiji Airways is looking to the future of its fleet. CEO Andre Viljoen says the airline needs replacements for its four Airbus A330s (three owned A330-200s and one leased A330-300) as they reach retirement age. The A350 emerges as a frontrunner. The success of their existing A350-900s makes them a natural choice. Viljoen highlights the A350’s efficiency for long-haul routes like Los Angeles and its suitability for shorter flights to Australia and New Zealand, where competitors use Boeing 737s.

Focus on leisure travel and key markets. Viljoen emphasizes that 80% of their passengers are leisure travelers, with family/friends (15%) and corporate (5%) making up the rest. Australia and New Zealand are crucial markets, accounting for 65% of revenue and traffic, but the U.S. drives most of their profitability. Their network includes

major cities in both regions, with ambitions to expand to underserved destinations like Cairns and Port Moresby. Open skies and future growth. An open skies agreement between the U.S. and Fiji is seen as a potential game-changer, allowing partnerships with hubs like Dallas/Fort Worth and Seattle. Network growth in North America has already seen a 17% rise in 2023 compared to 2022, and they aim to keep that momentum going with a potential new long-haul destination within the year.

FIJIFIRST is expected to be deregistered as a party on June 28, and it is highly likely that the party parliamentarians will remain in Parliament as Independents.

The Fijian Elections Office (FEO) had ordered FijiFirst to amend its party constitution by June 28 as there was no grievance procedure in the party constitution for the MPs in disputes, which the FEO stated was in breach of the Political Parties Act 2013.

The resignation yesterday of founding members – which included former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum –leaves a vacuum in the party.

Former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama, former attorney-general Aiyaz-Sayed Khaiyum and former health minister Dr Neil Sharma have pleaded not guilty to their respective charges in the Suva Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

They appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Josaia Waqaivolavola facing charges of abuse of office, obstructing the course of justice and breach of trust by a person employed in the public service for alleged transactions in 2011.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum and Mr Sharma’s bail has been extended and a production order was issued for Mr Bainimarama.

The case has been adjourned to September 3. They are accused of failing to comply with statutory requirements as stipulated under the 2010 Procurement Regulations. Mr Sharma is charged with two counts of abuse of office and

Neither the MPs nor the party supporters have the power to amend the party constitution because this document does not allow them to appoint the party’s leaders and executives.

Under the FijiFirst constitution, the founding members automatically become members of the leadership committee and had the exclusive right to vote for and appoint to or remove persons from the central executive committee.

The leadership committee also has the power

Meanwhile, it is understood that in a meeting yesterday, the 17 expelled FijiFirst MPs and one more MP, decided they would not want the

two counts of breach of trust. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum is also charged with one count of abuse of office and one of obstructing the course of justice while Bainimarama is charged with one count of abuse of office.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum and Bainimarama’s lawyer Devanesh Sharma said the term public service in the particulars of offence for the trio was “defective”.

He told the court that when the Public Service Act 1999 was amended in 2016, the term public service and the definition of minister and ministry had changed to civil service.

Mr Sharma also requested the State to supply the proposed agreed facts and to consider the preliminary issue as mentioned. He requested the court to schedule a date in August for the proposed agreed facts and pre-trial conference.

Pakistan’s budgetary allocation for defence falls to 1.7 per cent of its GDP

Pakistan’s budgetary allocation of Rs 2,122 billion for defence for 2024-25 constitutes just 1.7 per cent of the cash-strapped but nucleararmed nation’s GDP, which is the same as the previous year, despite the higher than the Rs 1,804 billion set aside during the outgoing fiscal 2023-24, according to budget documents.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday presented a Rs 18,877 billion heavily taxed budget for 2024-25.

The finance minister’s speech and various budget documents show that Rs 2,122 billion allocated for the next fiscal year is Rs 318 billion higher than Rs 1,804 billion budgeted for the outgoing fiscal year 2023-24, ending on June 30.

According to Pakistan Economic Survey 202324, which is a key document showing the budget and performance of the economy each year and is released ahead of the budget each year, defence spending as a percentage of the GDP has come

down since 2020. It shows that the defence spending was 2.6 per cent of the GDP in 2020 but it decreased to 2.4 per cent in 2021, and went down further to 2.1 per cent in 2022, followed by 1.9 per cent in 2023 and 1.7 per cent in 2024.

For the year 2025, defence spending has been retained at 1.7 per cent of the GDP, showing that there was no change in the share of the army in the overall pie despite it getting more money in the budget.

The document lists defence spending as per GDP since 2016 when it was 2.3 per cent, and increased to 2.5 per cent of the GDP in 2017 and further to 2.6 per cent in 2018. It remained unchanged at 2.6 per cent from 2018 to 2020 and then decreased.

However, the data released by the government may not convey the real picture of defence spending as several military-related expenses are budgeted in the civilian expenditures.

Pakistani court acquits Imran Khan, Mehmood Qureshi and Sheikh Rashid in case of vandalism

In a major relief to Imran Khan, a Pakistani court on Thursday acquitted the jailed former premier, his aide Shah Mehmood Qureshi and former minister Sheikh Rashid in a case of vandalism. The case was registered in 2022 at Islamabad’s I-9 police station and based on the alleged involvement in acts of vandalism and violation of Section 144 of the Pakistan Penal Code which had banned rallies.

Judicial Magistrate Malik Muhammad Imran issued the verdict, acquitting the three senior leaders along with two more leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf - Sadaqat Abbasi and Ali Nawaz Awan. The ruling comes as relief to the former prime minister and his colleagues who had

been involved in different cases after Khan’s government was toppled through a no-confidence vote in April 2022. The party began protests and it took out a major rally in May 2022, which was led by Khan and joined by thousands of his workers. As the protestors entered Islamabad, low-scale violence broke out and properties were damaged.

The Islamabad police filed separate cases against 150 people on May 27, 2022, including Khan as well as other party leaders over allegations of arson and vandalism in the federal capital a day earlier. At least 39 people were arrested by police after identification from the footage of the Safe City cameras and private TV news channels after the protest.

‘Meloni namaste karna sikh gayi’: Italian PM welcomes guests with ‘namaste’ at G7 Summit in Italy

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday preferred to greet her guests with a namaste over a handshake at the G7 Summit.

In the pictures and videos, she can be seen greeting President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz with folded hands.

Several Indian netizens were happy to see Meloni accepting and preferring the Indian way of greeting people instead of a handshake.

“Meloni Namaste karna sikh gayi” (Meloni has learnt the Namaste gesture), commented one user. The netizens also expressed excitement over Meloni and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting as the cheerful friendliness between the two leaders had sparked a social media frenzy in the past.

Some netizens believed that this was “Modi’s magic”.

A user wrote, “Eagerly waiting for Modi and Meloni to come together.”

Glad my first visit in 3rd term is to Italy’, says PM Modi Meanwhile, PM Modi has left for the G7 Summit.

He released a statement saying he was glad that his first foreign visit after assuming office for the third consecutive term was to Italy.

“At the invitation of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, I am travelling to the Apulia region in Italy to participate in the G7 Outreach Summit on 14 June 2024. I am glad that my first visit in the third consecutive term is to Italy for the G-7 Summit,” read the statement.

Record 1,40,000 student visas to Indians last year, number likely to cross this year

After issuing a record 1,40,000 student visas last year, the US consular team in India is all geared up to meet the expected rise in number of applications from Indian students in 2024, with a senior official at the embassy here saying that the projected total number this year will be “similar or in excess” in comparison to last year.

The US Mission in India on Thursday held its eighth annual Student Visa Day countrywide with consular officers from New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai interviewing Indian student visa applicants. At the US Embassy in Delhi, a long queue of students was seen since morning.

American universities attract a large number of Indian students, and last year, the US consular team in India issued over 1,40,000 student

visas—higher than for any other country setting a record for the third year in a row. Syed Mujtaba Andrabi, acting Consul General at US Embassy in New Delhi, in an interaction with PTI at the embassy, said, “by the end of the day, we should have interviewed approximately 4,000 students.”

“It (student visas) is one of our top priorities. Academic exchange between the two countries is one of the top priorities of this administration, and our Mission here. Last year, we issued a record number of student visas, numbering 1,40,000, which has been a record...And, we will continue to focus on this area, as we go forward during this year,” Andrabi told PTI.

“We will continue to have the same focus, and maximise the number of students,” he added.

Supreme Court warns Himachal Pradesh of contempt of court action for flip-flop

The Himachal Pradesh Government’s flipflop on 137 cusec unutilised surplus water it had agreed to give to Delhi invited the wrath of the Supreme Court which warned its officials of contempt of court action for making contradictory statements before it.

Such was the anger of a Vacation Bench of Justice PK Mishra and Justice PB Varale that Himachal Pradesh Advocate General Anup Kumar Rattan had to withdraw the state government’s earlier statement on “availability” of surplus water to be supplied to Delhi via Haryana.

Basing on the statements made by Himachal Pradesh Additional Advocate General that the

state had 137 cusecs surplus water which would be released, the top court had on June 6 directed that “the State of Himachal Pradesh shall release 137 cusecs available with it from the upstream so that the water reaches Hathni Kund Barrage and then reaches Delhi through Wazirabad.”

However, when Haryana communicated and requested Himachal Pradesh to inform them about the release of additional 137 cusecs of water as per this court’s order, the Himachal Jal Shakti Vibhag informed the Engineer-in-Chief, Haryana, Irrigation Department, on June 6, 2024, that 137 cusecs of unutilised Yamuna water share of Himachal was already flowing uninterruptedly from its territory to Tajewala.

Stop taking Indians in army, Russia told

India has told Russia that ‘illegal recruitment’ of Indian youths who are being sent to war zones has to stop.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Wednesday said the matter has been discussed with the Russian Government and leadership.

Will India stay close to Russia during Modi’s third term?

As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads to Italy as a guest at this week’s G7 summit, support for Ukraine is high on the agenda for leaders of the world’s most advanced economies.

The war has drawn scrutiny to Russia’s close ties with India as Ukraine’s Western partners urge Modi’s government to condemn the 2022 invasion and put pressure on the Kremlin. While in Italy, Modi is also expected to discuss the issue with US President Joe Biden, although the meeting at the sidelines of the G7 summit has yet to be confirmed.

Modi is also facing a changed political landscape at home as he enters his third term. His Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) no longer holds an absolute majority in the Indian Parliament, forcing Modi’s new government to rely on coalition partners. owever, analysts believe that India will largely stick to its established foreign policy, including its

longstanding ties with Moscow.

Modi’s ‘open invitation’ to visit Putin

“There is a political consensus across major political parties on ties with Russia. Many previous governments have been non-BJP, but the relationship with Russia flourished under them,” Nandan Unnikrishnan, a distinguished fellow in Eurasia studies at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), a New Delhi-based think tank. In India, Russia enjoys a better public image than in the United States or Europe. India and Russia are also cooperating on weapons development.

The Kremlin has extended an “open invitation” for Modi to visit Moscow. The Indian prime minister signaled that the visit would happen this year, although no date has been set. And the new government in New Delhi is unlikely to spoil this friendship.

“We have told Russia that Indian nationals in war zones have to be returned,” he said.

It has been noticed that Indian youths have been sent to Russia and they have been recruited.

“The illegal recruitment has to stop. We have taken this seriously,” added Kwatra.

This comes after two Indians nationals, who had been recruited by the Russian army, were killed in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. One of them is from Punjab.

On Tuesday night, the MEA said the matter had been taken up strongly with the Russian Ambassador in New Delhi and with Russian authorities in Moscow. The MEA said “it has sought return of all Indians who are with the Russian army”.

India finds some spices of popular brands unsafe for consumption

India’s Rajasthan state has told the federal government it found some spices of popular brands MDH and Everest “unsafe” for consumption after tests, a letter shows, as local and global scrutiny of the brands for alleged contamination intensifies.

Hong Kong in April suspended sales of three spice blends produced by MDH and one by Everest, saying they contained high levels of a cancercausing pesticide ethylene oxide, triggering scrutiny by regulators in India and other markets.

Singapore also ordered a recall of the Everest mix, and New Zealand, the United States and Australia have said they were looking into the issues. Britain has applied extra controls on all spices entering from India, the world’s biggest exporter, producer and consumer of spices.

northwestern state, Shubhra Singh, to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). MDH and Everest — two of India’s most popular brands — have said their products are safe for consumption. The companies did not respond to a request for comment on the state’s letter.

Rajasthan state checked samples of many spices and found a batch of Everest spice mix and two of MDH’s “unsafe”, according to a private letter from a senior health official in the

State authorities of Gujarat and Haryana, where the MDH and Everest batches were made, “should be asked to take action in the matter without delay”, Singh, who is the additional chief secretary for health, wrote in her letter which is not public but has been seen by Reuters.

Indian doctor says he found part of a human finger in his ice cream cone

Police in India have launched an investigation after a doctor claimed he found part of a human finger in an ice cream cone he ordered online. Dr. Orlem Brendan Serrao, who lives in Mumbai, said he found the partial digit in a Yummo Ice Creams cone ordered by his sister via a grocery delivery app. Serrao said in a post shared widely on social media that when he dug into his dessert, he felt something unusual in his mouth and spat out what appeared to be a portion of a human finger about an inch long. He shared a video that he said showed the alleged body part sticking out of his melting cone. “I had ordered three ice creams cones from an app. One

of them was a butterscotch ice cream of Yummo brand. After eating half of it, I felt a solid piece in my mouth. I thought it could be a nut or a chocolate piece and spat it out to check what it was,” Serrao said in his post.

The doctor and his sister reported the incident to the police, who have filed a case and sent the apparent partial finger for forensic examination.

The Mumbai Police force said it was taking the incident seriously and would investigate it thoroughly, noting that a partially severed finger being discovered in such a way could be connected to a crime.

Kuwait identifies bodies of 45 Indians, 3 Filipino nationals

India on Thursday night is sending a military transport aircraft to Kuwait to bring back mortal remains of over 40 Indians killed in a devastating fire in a building housing foreign workers in southern Kuwait. Kuwaiti authorities said they identified bodies of 45 Indians and three Filipino nationals killed in the fire. At least 49 migrant workers were killed and 50 others injured in the blaze. Officials in Delhi said the C-130J transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force will bring back bodies on Friday and it will first land in Kochi as

PM

most of the deceased Indians are from Kerala.

The aircraft is then expected to reach Delhi as some of the Indians killed are from a few north Indian states, they said.

Kuwaiti authorities have already conducted DNA tests on the bodies as part of the identification process. Kuwaiti Fire Force said the deadly fire was caused by an “electrical circuit”.

In a press statement, it said the conclusion was arrived at after examination of the scene of the incident, Kuwaiti news agency KUNA reported.

Modi reviews J-K

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked officials to deploy the “full spectrum of counter-terror capabilities” as he reviewed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir following a spate of terror incidents, including an attack on a bus carrying pilgrims.

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and other officials attended the meeting chaired by Modi, who also spoke to Home Minister Amit Shah and discussed the deployment of security forces and counter-terror operations, government sources said. They said Modi spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha as well and took stock of the situation in the Union Territory. Sinha briefed him on the efforts being undertaken by the local administration. In the

security situation

meeting, the Prime Minister was given a full overview of the security-related situation in the region and was apprised of the counter-terror efforts being undertaken. “The Prime Minister asked them to deploy the full spectrum of our counter-terror capabilities,” an official source said.

Terrorists struck at four places in Reasi, Kathua and Doda districts of Jammu and Kashmir over the past four days, killing nine pilgrims and a CRPF jawan and leaving seven security personnel and several others injured.

Two suspected Pakistani terrorists were also killed in an encounter with security forces in Kathua, and a large quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from them.

Kamran Akmal Extends Apology To Harbhajan Singh, Sikh Community After Controversial Arshdeep Singh Remark

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has offered a sincere apology to Harbhajan Singh for his recent comments regarding India pacer Arshdeep Singh’s religion. Akmal expressed regret for his remarks,

remarkable performance during the India vs. Pakistan T20 World Cup 2024 match. Entrusted with defending 17 runs in the last over, Arshdeep delivered brilliantly, securing a crucial six-run victory for India with commendable bowling skills.

acknowledging their inappropriateness and disrespectfulness. The incident occurred during Akmal’s appearance on ARY News, where he made a controversial statement about Arshdeep’s religion, drawing criticism from Harbhajan and others on social media. Harbhajan Singh was quick to condemn Akmal’s insensitive remarks, highlighting the need for sensitivity and respect in such matters. Meanwhile, amidst the controversy, Arshdeep Singh displayed

The match itself witnessed a challenging start for India, with openers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma struggling on a sluggish New York pitch. Despite Rishabh Pant’s aggressive innings, India’s lower middle order failed to capitalize, resulting in a total of 119 runs in 19 overs. Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah, delivered exceptional performances to restrict India’s batting lineup.

This incident involving Kamran Akmal serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining respect and sensitivity, especially in sports where players from diverse backgrounds compete. Akmal’s prompt apology reflects an understanding of the impact of his words. It underscores the significance of upholding values of inclusivity and mutual respect both on and off the field in the cricketing fraternity.

Punjab Vigilance Bureau busts job racket in police, arrests two employees

The state Vigilance Bureau (VB) has busted a recruitment scam in the police and arrested two employees for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 26 lakh from 102 persons in lieu Class IV jobs in the force.

Those arrested are Tarlochan Pal, posted in the 3rd IRB as a cleaner and resident of Mohalla Begampur in Adampur, Jalandhar, and Surinderpal, posted as a barber at the Punjab Police Academy in Phillaur and resident of Sikri village in Nilokheri, Karnal, Haryana.

VB officials said the suspects were arrested following an investigation into a complaint lodged at the Chief Minister’s Anti-Corruption Action Line portal by complainant Surinder Singh, a resident of Nanglan village in Garhshankar, Hoshiarpur.

They said the arrested duo was produced in a Jalandhar court on Wednesday and remanded in two-day police custody. The officials said they would be interrogated to get information on how many other innocent persons were

deceived and the total money collected in this recruitment fraud.

VB officials from Jalandhar Range conducted a preliminary investigation into the charges made by the complainant and found these to be correct, leading to the registration of a fraud case against both suspects.

It was found that Tarlochan Pal and Surinderpal had falsely assured the gullible persons that 560 Class IV vacancies were to be filled in the Punjab Police in the coming months. Acting in collusion, they demanded Rs 25,000 per person for a job in the police and hence collected a huge money from numerous individuals across the state.

Tarlochan Pal received a total of Rs 18,09,100 as bribe, which was deposited into his various bank accounts. Of this amount, he transferred Rs 5,45,000 to Surinderpal’s HDFC Bank account. In addition to this, Surinderpal received Rs 7,93,826 in his bank account separately, the VB officials said.

Punjabi tadka in Italy as Phagwara-born owner caters to Indian delegation

As the Indian restaurant in Apulia’s capital city of Bari basks in the warmth of the G7 Summit being hosted in southern Italy, owner Rupinder Singh drives in a hurry catering to meet the rush of orders to Indians.

Rupinder Singh--a native of Punjab’s Phagwara--began his work a year back. Never did he imagine that he would get an opportunity to cater to an event as big as this where the Indian Prime Minister would be visiting Italy along with a delegation.

Speaking with The Tribune, Singh, the owner of Namaste India restaurant, expressed excitement at the opportunity of serving people from India in Italy.

“I have orders for Indian cuisine. It’s a great opportunity for me and my team. Dining here would be an exceptional experience for them. Indian food has a different and vibrant flavour and I am happy and excited to serve people from my country,” said Singh.

Amritsar man dies fighting for Russian army, kin seek fiscal aid from Moscow

Two months after going to Russia on a tourist visa, Amritsar resident Tejpal Singh (30) was killed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war on March 12.

His family, which came to know of his death only a couple of days ago, said he died fighting for the Russian army and that the country (Russia) must financially support the family as he had left behind a widow, two kids and aged parents.

His parents, Preetpal Singh and Sarabjit Kaur, run a small grocery shop in the locality. Tejpal was the elder among two brothers. His younger brother, who was unmarried, had earlier died

following medical complications. Tejpal leaves behind wife Parminder Kaur, whom he married in 2017, a six-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter. Parminder said, “Tejpal wanted to join the Army since childhood. After several attempts, he could not make it to the Army or the paramilitary forces. So he decided to go abroad. He left home for Thailand on December 20 and from there flew to Russia on a tourist visa and landed at Moscow on January 12. He was recruited by the Russian army on January 16 and shared pictures with the family. After getting training, he was deployed at the border with Ukraine. There, he was killed on March 12.”

Sikh pilgrims from India arrive in Pakistan for Jor Mela

Over 800 Sikhs from India arrived here on Saturday to take part in Jor Mela, a three-day festival commemorating the death anniversary of the fifth Sikh guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji.

The Jor Mela will be held from June 15 at Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore.

Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) officer Ghulam Mohayuddin told PTI that Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president and Punjab Minorities Minister Ramesh Singh Arora and the ETPB senior officers welcomed the 846 visiting pilgrims at the Wagah border.

The Sikh pilgrims expressed great joy upon their arrival. “We will have the darshan (blessing to witness) of our Guru’s land. I feel very happy,” Gurbachan Singh, who heads the delegation, said and added there is a sense of belonging here.

Arora, the first Sikh minister in Pakistan’s Punjab province, said all the arrangements for the Sikh pilgrims have been made by the ETPB, which looks after the affairs of the minorities in the country. Special arrangements have been made for the security, transport and medical facilities of the pilgrims, he said.

Soon after their arrival, the pilgrims left for Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasanabdal, about 400-odd km northwest from here.

During their 10-day stay, the Indian Sikhs pilgrims would also visit Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak; Gurdwara Sacha Sauda, Farooqabad; Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, Narowal; and Gurdwara Rohri Sahib, Aminabad. They will return on June 17.

Hoshiarpur-born manager, Harsh Dhanda, said: “It is so exciting that we have a chance to make sure that they can get a taste of some authentic Indian flavours away from home.”

“Our restaurant uses fresh, quality ingredients to ensure that every dish on offer is of the highest standard,” he said.

The G7 Summit, being held at the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia in nearby Fasano, marks Prime Minister Modi’s first foreign visit since winning a third term in the recently concluded general election. Italy chose to host the G7 leaders’ summit in Apulia