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VOL 25 - ISSUE 44
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025
Sikh man who helped restrain attacker at Sydney's Bondi Beach says 'wanted to get attacker down'
A 34-year-old Indian-origin man who helped restrain one of the alleged shooters of the Bondi Beach attack in Australia said he wanted to help bring one of the assailants down and assist anyone who needed help. Fifteen people were killed after a father-son duo launched a gun attack on the occasion of a Jewish festival being celebrated at the beach on December 14. Forty others, including three Indian students, were injured in the attack. One of the attackers, Sydney resident Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead. His 24-year-old Australia-born son, Naveed Akram, was injured. Amandeep Singh-Bola, born in New Zealand to Indian and Kiwi parents, helped tackle suspect Sajid Akram, SBS News reported. Continued on Page 10...
Canada & US may not get sectoral deals before CUSMA renewal: Carney
Rain, wind and snowfall warnings in place across BC
Canada and the United States may not end up with specific sectoral trade deals — rather, those talks may “roll into” a renewed CanadaU.S.-Mexico (CUSMA) trade deal, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday. In October, U.S. President Donald Trump cancelled trade talks with Canada after Ontario aired an anti-tariff ad featuring former U.S. president Ronald Reagan. The U.S. currently has multiple rounds of tariffs on key sectors of the Canadian economy, including steel, aluminum, autos and lumber. While talks have been aimed at getting trade deals for those sectors that could see the U.S. tariffs lifted, Carney said that with the clock ticking towards the CUSMA review set for 2026, those talks might fold into a broader CUSMA negotiation. Continued on Page 6...
B.C. is in for another round of stormy weather with Environment Canada warning of heavy rain, wind and snow in various parts of the province. The warnings and special weather statements are the latest in what has been a difficult 10 days of harsh weather that has caused flooding in the Fraser Valley and major power outages in other parts of the South Coast. • Up to 70 millimetres of rain is forecast for Metro Vancouver and Howe Sound. • Metro Vancouver, Greater Victoria, Eastern Vancouver Island and parts of the Fraser Valley could see wind gusts up to 90 km/h. • 15 centimetres of snow could fall in and around Whistler. Continued on Page 10...
Vision becoming reality at Cloverdale’s Guru Nanak Diversity Village More than a year after dignitaries gathered to mark the project’s ground-breaking, construction of a long-term care facility in Cloverdale is well underway. The Guru Nanak Diversity Village, located near 176 Street and 64 Avenue, has passed the halfway point of
its two-year construction schedule. Satbir Cheema, president and CEO of the Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS), said the progress is encouraging, noting that each day brings the project closer to delivering much-needed care to the community. Cheema said the long-term care home reflects PICS’s dedication to delivering culturally responsive support for seniors. Speaking with the Cloverdale Reporter, he described the facility as a welcoming space built around inclusion, emphasizing that it will be open to residents of all backgrounds. Continued on Page 6...
India’s exports jumped 20 percent, despite Trump’s trade war
India’s exports increased by nearly 20 percent in November year-on-year, the country’s fastest growth in three years, driven primarily by exports to the United States and China. The rise comes at a time when many countries are struggling to protect exports from the impact of steep US tariffs introduced by US President Continued on Page 10... Donald Trump.
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025
Man wanted in killing of Vancouver taxi driver re-arrested A man wanted in connection with a fatal attack on a Vancouver taxi driver three years ago has been re-arrested, authorities said Thursday. Jordan Conway has been on the lam since being released into a halfway house over the summer, prompting a Canadawide warrant for his arrest. The Vancouver Police Department said officers took Conway into custody Tuesday following “an extensive investigation” by its homicide unit. “Conway has been remanded until his next court appearance,”
police said in a news release Thursday. The 26-year-old was charged with manslaughter last year in the August 2022 assault on Aden Hersi, but was later released on bail. Authorities previously said Hersi was attacked after driving a passenger to East Vancouver. The 69-year-old later died in hospital. Conway was also wanted on warrants for assault and three counts of breaching his release conditions, the former stemming from an alleged attack on a bystander who tried to help Hersi, according to police.
Another Surrey business hit with gunfire in connection with extortion A business in Surrey was sprayed with gunfire early Thursday for the second time, another in the string of extortion shootings. The Surrey Police Service says the shooting happened at about 3:30 a.m. at Star Auto Body in the area of 82 Avenue and 124 Street. Police say a suspect fired shots at the business and then left in a dark-coloured vehicle. No one was in the building at the time and there were no injuries, police said. This is the second time that Star Auto Body has been targeted in a shooting. Police say at 7:45 a.m., an employee arriving for work spotted the damage and called police. Anyone with information about this incident, including CCTV or dashcam footage, or who may know the identities of the suspects is asked to contact SPS’s non-emergency line at 604-599-
0502, the Surrey extortion tip lineat 236-4855149, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or solvecrime.ca. There have been more than 130 extortions reported in Abbotsford and Surrey so far this year.
Suspect in B.C. extortion case is arrested and charged in California
A man accused of being involved in an extortion investigation in British Columbia has been arrested and charged in California. RCMP say 30-year-old Jasmeet Singh is alleged to have made threatening phone calls to a victim in Langley, B.C. Mounties say they tracked down the man in Fresno, Calif., and reached out to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to further the case. The U.S. Attorney's Office in California says a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Singh, an Indian national, charging him with transmitting threats to injure a person. The office says in a statement that Singh allegedly threatened to kill the Canadian victim because of their "prior co-operation with Indian law enforcement."
The statement says Singh is alleged to have sent the victim a photo of their car in front of their home, and said that he knew the person's daily habits, down to the type of coffee they drank, and that trying to run would get them killed. A Langley RCMP spokesperson says Canadian investigators are working with the FBI to determine "the extent to which Jasmeet Singh is connected" to ongoing extortion investigations in Canada. Canada's South Asian community has been targeted by a wave of extortion threats, and some have been linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi crime group based in India. U.S. authorities say Singh is being held in custody while awaiting trial. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a US$250,000 fine.
16 mayors of Metro Vancouver urge Premier David Eby to unwind BC's housing legislation Areas of Practice ICBC/Personal Injury Immigration Law Corporate / Commercial Real Estate / Property Development
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A coalition of 16 Metro Vancouver mayors is calling on the Government of British Columbia to repeal and revise key housing legislation, warning that recent laws aimed at accelerating housing construction are misaligned with local planning realities and risk undermining municipal autonomy. In a letter in late November 2025 addressed to Premier David Eby, shared with Daily Hive Urbanized earlier this week, the mayors expressed “collective concerns” about provincial housing measures, including Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH), Housing Supply Target orders, and Transit-Oriented Area (TOA) legislation. The letter was initiated by Burnaby mayor Mike Hurley, and signed by Surrey mayor Brenda Locke, Richmond mayor Malcolm Brodie, Coquitlam mayor Richard Stewart, Langley Township mayor Eric Woodward, Delta mayor George Harvie, Maple Ridge mayor Dan Ruimy, North Vancouver District mayor Mike Little, Port Coquitlam mayor Brad West, West Vancouver District mayor Mark Sager, Port Moody mayor Meghan Lahti, White Rock mayor Megan Knight, and Pitt Meadows mayor Nicole MacDonald. Other signatories include the leaders of three small local jurisdictions — Anmore mayor John McEwen, Lions Bay mayor Ken Berry, and Belcarra mayor Jamie Ross. The letter was sent to Premier Eby following a meeting of the mayors in late November. The mayors argue that province-wide mandates fail to reflect the diverse geographic, infrastructure, and market conditions across Metro Vancouver. In particular, they say SSMUH requirements have triggered land speculation in some areas, disrupted neighbourhood cohesion, and diverted
municipal government staff resources away from locally tailored housing initiatives. Earlier this fall, in response to resident concerns, Burnaby City Council reduced the permitted size of new multiplex homes — now smaller than what is prescribed by SSMUH legislation. Concerns were also raised about the housing target orders, which the mayors say hold municipalities accountable for factors beyond their control, such as financing conditions and broader economic trends that impact market demand and construction costs. The housing target orders are based on residential units actually reaching completion, not municipal approvals. While the municipal governments have approved projects representing thousands of housing units, construction has stalled in many cases due to high interest rates and weakened consumer confidence, the letter notes. TOA legislation also came under criticism. According to the mayors, the uniform density requirements imposed by the provincial government do not align with Metro Vancouver Regional District’s collaboratively developed regional land use framework and fail to account for differences in local infrastructure capacity. They warn that the legislation limits municipalities’ ability to plan transit-oriented development in a way that reflects local conditions and coordinated regional transportation planning. While critical of the legislation, the mayors emphasize that they share the province’s goal of increasing housing supply and affordability. They call for renewed collaboration across all levels of government and are urging the provincial government to initiate consultations on legislative amendments affecting Metro Vancouver municipalities.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025
Most Canadians support oil and gas expansion, differ on priorities: Ipsos New data suggests the majority of Canadians support efforts to expand oil and gas development, including expanding and building pipelines — but within that data, their support shifts when it comes to the specifics of how to do that, according to Ipsos polling. That finding comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney has been working to speed up the development of major projects, including new oil and gas projects in Canada amid the trade war, and after Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith reached a memorandum of understanding towards building an oil pipeline from Alberta to Canada’s West Coast. A newly released Ipsos poll conducted exclusively for Global News asked 1,500 adult Canadians in December how they were feeling about Carney’s oil and gas pipeline plans amid the trade war. Eighty-three per cent of respondents said they at least somewhat agree that Canada should focus on expanding oil and gas exports to other countries beyond the United States because of the current trade war and U.S President Donald Trump’s tariffs, and 34 per cent of those said they strongly agree. The majority of respondents — 68 per cent — also said they support building a new oil pipeline to the northern coast of British Columbia, but slightly prefer expanding the output capacity of infrastructure which already exists first, with support for that latter option at 72 per cent. Ipsos noted the attitudes towards these oil and gas pipeline goals appear to be informed by the economic impact the trade war with the U.S. is having on Canada’s economy. “This is an environment that wasn’t there for Stephen Harper, for example, when he was trying to build pipelines. Certainly, for Justin Trudeau, he was dead set against it, even though they did build the Trans Mountain Pipeline. But that wasn’t
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Atmospheric river causes Coquihalla River to cut right through Hope golf course
a building of a new pipeline, that was just doubling up capacity on one that already exists,” says Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs. “This is the most favourable public opinion environment I can remember when it comes to building infrastructure around oil and gas.” A total of 77 per cent of respondents said the trade war between Canada and the U.S. will permanently change the Canadian economy, of which 48 per cent said these changes will be negative and 29 per cent said the outcome will be positive.
The volunteers who take care of a golf course in Hope, B.C., are dealing with the devastation from last week’s atmospheric river, after a channel of the Coquihalla River cut right through the green. The group is now asking the province to help them deal with the fallout at the Hope Golf & Country Club. “When the bigger of the three (atmospheric) rivers came through this week, it eroded away the bank of the golf course number eight hole and charged its way through number four green and through number seven fairway, creating a whole new channel for the river that is probably taking, at this moment, half of the flow of the Coquihalla,” Steve Wilson, president of the Hope Golf & Country Club Society told Global News. He said the new ‘river’ has isolated the number seven green and the number eight tee boxes,
meaning the club may have to abandon that area and find a new plan. The club was already hit hard by the recordbreaking atmospheric rivers in 2021, but this weather pattern has taken over about 15 per cent of the course, Wilson explained. Hope Mayor Victor Smith said the golf course was one of the biggest areas to get hit by the storm. He said he had a conversation with Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Kelly Greene on Sunday to ask the province for help, but not for money. Smith said the channel is not going to change, now that it has chartered a course through the golf course, but they need to find a way to work around it. “We have got to get an emergency plan in place here so that this place survives,” he added.
Twenty-three per cent said the trade war will lead to no permanent change to Canada’s economy. Respondents in Quebec (64 per cent), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (54 per cent), and the Atlantic provinces (46 per cent) were most likely to say the trade war will permanently change Canada’s economy for the worse, though support for that sentiment was at or above 40 per cent in all other regions. When looking more closely at each region, the priorities among Canadians who participated in the study varied across different provinces. Building new pipelines appeared to have less support across all provinces compared to expanding current infrastructure first, with the exception of Alberta. Eighty-two per cent of respondents in Alberta said they support building a new northern BC pipeline to the west coast of Canada, while 74 per cent of Albertans said the priority should first be to expand the output of current pipelines.
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025
2 more century-old temperature records broken in BC Interior For the third day in a row, a high temperature record that had stood for more than a century has been broken in the B.C. Interior. On Wednesday, two communities—Summerland and Penticton—saw new record highs for Dec. 17, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada, eclipsing marks that had been in place for 108 and 100 years, respectively. Summerland saw a high of 9.7 C on Wednesday, topping the previous record of 8.9 C, which was set in 1917. In Penticton, the mercury rose to 10.5 C, more than a degree warmer than the 1925 mark of 9.4 C. Penticton and Vernon each broke century-old records on Tuesday, while Revelstoke broke a similar record on Monday. The unseasonably warm winter temperatures come amid a period of unsettled weather across the province. Rain, wind and snowfall warnings were all in place in various parts of the province on Thursday, one day after a storm knocked out power to more
than 100,000 on the South Coast. The latest storm forced a BC Ferries vessel to turn around mid-sailing, and the ferry service cancelled several other sailings between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Wind gusts over 100 kilometres per hour were recorded on Vancouver Island and in the Fraser Valley on Wednesday, and more than 70 millimetres of rain fell in Coquitlam. The Coquihalla Highway, meanwhile, saw 44 centimetres of snow on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Coquihalla Summit, with Environment Canada forecasting at least that much to fall again Thursday through Saturday. While the main route between the Lower Mainland and the Interior is buried in snow, communities across the Interior are thawing. The century-old records broken in Penticton and Summerland Thursday were two of six all-time highs for Dec. 17 set across the region.
Judge grants judgement against blogger accused of extorting Kelowna fruit-packing family A B.C. Supreme Court judge has issued a default judgment against a blogger who used his website to carry out what the court described as a campaign of defamation and attempted extortion against a Kelowna, B.C., family that runs a fruit-packing business. The judgment comes in a defamation case by Sandher Fruit Packers Ltd. and members of the Sandher family against Daryl MacAskill, the man behind the website Gangsterism Out. The site features dozens of articles accusing the family of involvement in organized crime, murder and drug trafficking – claims the family maintains are entirely fabricated. In a sharply worded ruling, Justice John Gibb-Carsley struck MacAskill’s defence, effectively
awarding the Sandhers a win in the defamation case by default. The judge noted MacAskill did not attend multiple court hearings, despite evidence he was aware of them and had been “properly served with application materials.” "Mr. MacAskill has fallen so far below the standards expected of litigants both in his compliance with the rules and by acting in a manner that constitutes an abuse of the court’s process that he should be disentitled from continuing to defend against this proceeding,” Gibb-Carsley wrote. According to the ruling, starting in early 2024, MacAskill used the online aliases “Ace” and “Ace Ventura” in what the judge described as “an ongoing campaign of unsupported hate-filled vitriol.”
Man convicted of killing B.C. mom sentenced to 12 years in prison After years of denials, and recent delays, the man who killed a young B.C. mom finally made an admission in court Thursday, before he was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Seventy-year-old Gary Losch apologized in an Abbotsford courtroom Thursday to the family and friends of Chelsey Gauthier. “I would just like to say that Chelsey and I were friends,” a tearful Losch said. “It was a horrible accident that happened. I’m very sorry for what happened.” But what Losch didn’t say, according to Gauthier’s family, was why he killed her. “I don’t personally believe it was an accident,” said Amanda Gauthier, Chelsey’s cousin. Losch was originally charged with second-degree murder, but found guilty in July of manslaughter and indignity to human remains in Gauthier’s stabbing death. She was killed in 2017. Her body was found in a remote, forested area near Mission. Gauthier was with Losch after she agreed to help him tend to his outdoor marijuana grow operation. It took years before charges were laid. Relatives said they’re grateful to police for pursuing justice. “There is an officer that did not let up with this case,” said Amanda Gauthier. “I want to personally thank him.” Gauthier described her cousin as “very caring.” “She was very kind. She wouldn’t hurt anything,” she said. Even before a sentence was handed down, Gauthier’s family expected it would bring a sense of closure. “This is going to be a great Christmas, knowing
he’s not walking around, he can’t hurt my kids. He can’t hurt my family and knowing that, I can be a little more stress free,” Gauthier said. In sentencing, the judge noted that Losch had shown remorse and apologized. But the judge also said that Losch had lived a life of crime and had done little to rehabilitate himself. Losch was sentenced to 12 years jail, but given credit for the equivalent of almost 3.5 years for time already served. Kasadee York, one of Chelsey Gauthier’s friends, said she didn’t feel the sentence reflected the gravity of the loss. “No sentence for this offence would truly be enough. I do not think the offender is sorry, nor do I think he will be ‘rehabilitated,’ as he has made no efforts so far to do so,” York said in a statement to CTV News. York thanked the prosecution team for their work on the case. “I’m hoping now we can finally remember Chelsey for Chelsey, the bright, talented, amazing young mother (among many other things) she was,” said York. In a statement late Thursday, Sgt. Freda Fong of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team called the investigation “complex” and the crime scene “complicated.” “A case like this takes a lot of persistence not only to gather, but also to present the evidence, in an effort to demonstrate the truth of what happened to the victim,” Fong said. “We are so proud of the investigators for their dedication and the great lengths they went to see this case through.” Fong said officers hope for peace and closure for Chelsey’s family and friends.
OPINION
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Trump tariffs and warming India-China ties have silenced the Quad partnership When leaders of “the Quad” last met in September 2024, host and then-President Joe Biden declared the partnership between the United States, India, Australia and Japan to be “more strategically aligned than ever before.” “The Quad is here to stay,” trumpeted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Fast-forward a little over a year, however, and the tune has changed. Leaders of the Quad were due to hold their latest summit in November 2025, with India hosting. But the month came and went, and no event was held. A future date has yet to be announced. For the Trump administration, the domestic dividends of the Quad are not immediately obvious. Meanwhile, New Delhi is more concerned about how to position itself amid the great power competition between China and the U.S. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, to give the Quad its full name, began life in 2004. The Quad 1.0 focused on humanitarian disaster assistance and cooperation after the Indian Ocean tsunami. In 2007, under the vision of then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Quad was recast as a platform to promote a free and prosperous IndoPacific, with an eye toward maritime security and economic cooperation. Since then, the Quad has seen many fits and starts. Australia withdrew from the partnership in 2008 when it prioritized trade relations with China. India, too, has at times been tepid about the Quad’s continuation, partly due to its legacy of nonalignment and concerns over managing relations with Beijing. The Quad 2.0 came to life in 2017 as the four core members coalesced around a shared sentiment of countering China’s rising power. Despite its name, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue has increasingly gravitated toward nonsecurity agendas, from global health to maritime domain awareness and critical technologies.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025
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Government satisfaction scores fall like winter snow as Canadians blanketed in cost-of-living challenges 2025 ends much the way it started, with political and economic turmoil that has persisted in some form or another for the duration, with Canada and the United States continuing to fail to reach a trade deal, and that relationship strained. For tens of millions of Canadians, cost-of-living and affordability challenges have been exacerbated by the trade situation. While provincial governments began the year basking in higher approval levels buoyed by a jolt of national pride, they end it with the same kind of enthusiasm Canadians have for stale fruitcake. New data from the non-profit Angus Redi Institute finds that satisfaction with governments has dropped considerably compared to the beginning of 2025. Comparing scores on ARI’s Government Performance Index – an average of satisfaction across 16 issues – scores are down by approximately one-
quarter. The average in March – led by a significant rise in those saying the tariffs were a top issue – was 34 nationally. That has dropped to 26 now, as the cost of living and health care are back atop the list of priorities, and largely a cause of dissatisfaction. Scores range from 35 in Saskatchewan, where residents are mostly likely to rate their government as performing well on the issues they care most about, to 20 in Ontario. Although the two prairie provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan are seen by residents in each as performing better than those in other provinces rate their own respective government, there are also red flags. On health care, 68 per cent in Alberta and 72 per cent in Saskatchewan believe their provincial government is doing a ‘poor job’. On the rising cost of living, 67 per cent in Alberta and 61 per cent in Saskatchewan are critical of their governments’ performances.
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025
Vision becoming reality at Cloverdale’s Guru Nanak Diversity Village Continued from Page 1... While the home will integrate South Asian traditions, values, and cultural practices into its daily operations, it is designed to serve and support seniors from diverse communities. Cheema said the facility will be supported by a diverse team of staff capable of communicating with residents in their preferred languages, while also understanding their cultural needs and expectations. He noted that addressing this gap in care was a key motivation behind the creation of the Guru Nanak Diversity Village. While options such as independent and assisted living already exist, he explained that the new facility represents the next stage of support—providing round-the-clock care for seniors who require it. Cheema said three key considerations guided the decision to establish the facility: language, food, and culture. He explained that many seniors within the South Asian community do not speak English, which can create significant challenges when they enter traditional longterm care homes. Communication barriers, he noted, often leave residents feeling isolated and misunderstood at a time when clear interaction is critical to their well-being. Food was another major concern. Cheema pointed out that many seniors have followed the same dietary traditions throughout their lives, and the sudden inability to access familiar foods in long-term care can be deeply distressing. He said the adjustment can be particularly jarring in a person’s later years, when comfort and routine matter most. The third factor, Cheema said, is culture. He shared the example of an elderly Sikh man who struggled to eat at a conventional care facility. In an effort to help, a nurse shaved the man’s beard—unaware of its cultural and religious significance. The incident had a profound
emotional impact, Cheema said, noting that the man became depressed and passed away within a week. The story underscores the importance of cultural understanding in caregiving, he explained, as seniors need to maintain the traditions, beliefs, and customs that have shaped their lives. Cheema emphasized that when seniors are unable to live in a way that aligns with their cultural and religious practices, it can lead to unnecessary stress, emotional pain, and depression during their final years. A facility such as Guru Nanak Diversity Village, he said, is designed to address those needs by offering culturally sensitive care that supports dignity and quality of life. The three-storey Guru Nanak Diversity Village will include 125 beds, and construction is progressing on schedule. Cheema expects the building to be completed by October 2026, with residents moving in early 2027. The facility will feature a neighbourhood-style design, with each neighbourhood consisting of nine to 24 private rooms, each with its own bathroom. These rooms will be arranged around shared spaces commonly found in a home, including living rooms, dining areas, kitchens, and outdoor recreational spaces. The project is being developed through partnerships with the Ministry of Health, Fraser Health, and B.C. Housing. PICS have contributed $5 million toward the project, while government funding totals $118 million. Provincial funding will be repaid through lowcost construction financing, and PICS will own and operate the facility. Guru Nanak Diversity Village is being built at 6471 175A Street in Cloverdale. In 2022, 175A Street was given the honorary name “Guru Nanak Village Way.”
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Sikh man who helped restrain attacker at Sydney's Bondi Beach says 'wanted to get attacker down'
Continued from Page 1... Singh-Bola ran onto the bridge where the alleged shooter was firing at people, pinning him down with the help of a police officer. "I jumped on top of [the shooter] and grabbed his arms. The police officer helped me and said not to let him go," the report quoted him as saying. “I wanted to help get one of [the alleged shooters] down, or just help anybody that needed help," he said. Singh-Bola, who initially dismissed the gunshots as fireworks, was eating a kebab and watching the sunset over the beach when the shooting occurred. “It was almost like tunnel vision — just trying to hide behind things and not be seen, just trying
to find out where he was. Once I saw where he was, nothing else really mattered,” the personal trainer said. Singh-Bola said police had shot the alleged gunman, and while he lay on top of him, he could feel the shooter dying. Asserting that he was not sick from the blood when he got up, Singh-Bola said, "I had just smashed back a kebab with spicy sauce on it, so I was actually sick from the run down.” Australia's federal police commissioner Krissy Barrett has described the shooting as "a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State". Sajid Akram has been identified as an Indian citizen hailing from Hyderabad, who migrated to Australia 27 years ago. The other suspect Naveed Akram is an Australian citizen.
Canada& USA may not get sectoral deals before CUSMA renewal: Carney Continued from Page 1... “My judgment is that is now going to roll into the broader CUSMA negotiations. We’re unlikely, given the time horizon coming together, to have a sectoral agreement. Although (if) the United States wants to come back on that in those areas, we’re always ready there,” Carney said. Greer said Canada’s policies “unfairly restrict market access for U.S. dairy products.” On Thursday, Carney said Canada will not budge on supply management in the dairy sector – a policy that Trump has attacked in the past. “We’ve been clear about our approach to supply management. We continue to stand by that. We’ll continue to protect supply management,” Carney told reporters. The U.S. also wants provinces to lift their bans on U.S. alcohol, Greer said. Premier Doug Ford said Ontario would continue its prohibition of U.S.
booze on LCBO shelves. “As for alcohol, we’ve seen (Canadian) wine sales go up 76 per cent. They’re having a record year. The grape growers are having a record year. Small (and) large wineries are having a record year. Distilleries are (too),” Ford said. “When the prime minister and President Trump come up with a great deal for both countries, we’d be more than happy to bring in some Kentucky bourbon. But until then, we’re going to hold off.” Earlier this month, Carney met Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in Washington, D.C., where the three attended the draw of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be jointly hosted by all three nations. Carney said he had “a long conversation” with the two presidents about renewing CUSMA. “We set out the broad parameters for the review of CUSMA,” Carney said of those conversations.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025
Vancouver School Board votes to close Sir Guy Carleton Elementary School Vancouver School Board trustees have voted to officially close Sir Guy Carleton Elementary School in East Vancouver, more than nine years after it was badly damaged by a fire. One of the oldest schools in the city, Carleton school was first opened in 1896 on a 261,360-squarefoot property at 3250 Kingsway in East Vancouver's Joyce-Collingwood neighbourhood. In August 2016, a blaze at the school's main building led to the school's closure and its students being enrolled at other nearby schools. School board staff had recommended the school be permanently closed, saying that over $650,000 has been spent over nearly a decade to maintain the school's vacant buildings. "To return the school to a safe and usable condition, major capital funding would be required from the provincial government," a staff report reads. "However, VSB has been denied multiple funding requests to repair and seismically upgrade the school." Suzie Mah, a trustee with the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE), attempted to pause the permanent closure of the school and renew a
request to the province for repair funding. However, her motion failed, even as Mah argued the neighbourhood is growing and community schools are important to maintain. The motion to close the school carried in a 5-3 vote, with board chair Victoria Jung arguing that voting to permanently close the school now gives the board more options on what to do next. "I will be voting in favour of closing, because I put more value on students in schools than empty buildings," Jung said. Staff said that three nearby elementary schools — Cunningham, Weir and MacCorkindale — have served students from Carleton's catchment area in the nine years since the fire. It says that population projections show the three schools would be able to handle students in the area for the next 14 years. "Approximately $65,000 in VSB operating funds are spent annually to keep the school buildings secure and safe," the staff report reads. "These funds could be directed toward supporting students and schools in active use."
Record snowfall in Fort St. John Snow clearing crews in Fort St. John, B.C., are working overtime and bringing in reinforcements as the city continues to dig out from a recordsetting start to winter. More than 67 centimetres of snow has smothered the northeastern B.C. city since the start of December, nearly triple the monthly average of 26.8 centimetres, according to Environment Canada. Jeremy Garner, the city’s public works director, says the snow is welcome after years of drought, but difficult for crews to manage all at once. “A road’s plowed and then the next morning there's 10 centimetres on top of it,” Garner told CBC Daybreak North host Bill Fee.
“You know, it just feels like the endless cycle of Christmas dinner dishes over and over and over again … it just won't quit.” The city set new daily snowfall records on Dec. 10 and 13, recording 11.9 centimetres and 11.5 centimetres, respectively, according to Environment Canada. The weather agency says the persistent snowfall is being driven by Pacific moisture pushing over the Rockies and running into an Arctic air mass that has settled over the region. “It's been many years since we've seen this amount of snow on this many consecutive days,” said meteorologist Brian Proctor.
OneBC no longer recognized as official party, MLA says A B.C. MLA says the Speaker’s Office has confirmed that OneBC will no longer be recognized as an official party in the legislature. Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong posted on X Tuesday night that she and Dallas Brodie, MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena, will sit as Independents in the legislature. CBC News has learned that Armstrong wrote to Speaker Raj Chouhan to inform him that she will not be caucusing with Brodie and that she understands that the OneBC caucus will no longer be formally recognized in the legislature. The announcement came shortly after OneBC said it had removed Brodie as leader with Armstrong posting on X that she had “lost confidence” in Brodie’s leadership.
Brodie told The Canadian Press that the split happened after colleagues tried to stop her from firing a caucus staffer whose views were antisemitic. Brodie posted on X Wednesday that she has “made a commitment to OneBC members and I will continue fighting for this incredible movement.” Armstrong and Brodie formed OneBC earlier this year. They had been sitting as Independents after parting ways with the B.C. Conservatives. OneBC's stated party priorities include defunding the "reconciliation industry," ending mass immigration and removing the SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) program from classrooms.
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B.C. backtracks on cutting pipeline tax that would have cost communities millions The B.C. government will not move forward with changes to how the value of pipelines are calculated by B.C. Assessment — at least for now. It comes after public backlash from local governments, who say the proposed adjustments would have cost them millions in property taxes annually. Among those celebrating the news was the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD), who went public about the impact of the proposal following a board meeting in October 2025. "It's an early Christmas gift," said board chair Barbara Roden.
"It means the tax burden will not be shifted ... onto residents and businesses." The board was among several local governments to raise concerns about the proposal, which would have changed how B.C. Assessment values pipelines that run through communities. The updated model would have reduce assessed pipeline values across the province, impacting communities where pipelines make up much of the commercial tax base. Roden said the communities in the TNRD would have lost millions of dollars, money that would have had to come from elsewhere. In a statement, B.C. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey said that the proposed changes — which originated with B.C. Assessment — will not be on the table for 2026. At an Oct. 23 meeting with the TNRD, Chris Whyte, B.C. Assessment's manager of specialized costs, explained why the proposed changes were on the table.
Pro-Palestinian protester suspended from Vancouver Island University loses court challenge A Vancouver Island University (VIU) student who was suspended for two years for her role in a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus has lost a court challenge over the discipline. Sara Kishawi was suspended in October 2024 for taking part in the encampment, which was eventually dismantled after more than 100 days when the B.C. Supreme Court granted the university an injunction. VIU handed Kishawi the suspension after a university disciplinary authority found she had committed multiple violations of the university's
student conduct code, in connection with protest activity. Kishawi was among dozens of students who participated in the encampment and asked the university to acknowledge "the genocide of Palestinians" by Israel and disclose investments "complicit in human rights violations." After she was suspended, Kishawi took the university to court and argued her Charter rights to political expression were breached, and that she wasn't granted procedural fairness with the suspension decision.
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025
Prolific offender loses appeal in Langley-Maple Ridge burglary case A man with a lengthy criminal history has lost his appeal against convictions linked to a string of crimes in Langley and Maple Ridge in the winter of 2020. Matthew Sidney Soper attempted to overturn the verdict after he was identified as one of two men in a stolen car, using a stolen debit card, breaking into an occupied Maple Ridge home, and leaving in a stolen pickup truck. Justice Nitya Iyer wrote the Dec. 16 opinion dismissing Soper’s appeal attempt. According to Iyer’s ruling, the incident began in Langley in the early morning hours of Nov. 12, 2020, when two men stole a white Honda Civic from a gas station and drove to Maple Ridge. They used a debit card that belonged to the car’s owner to buy items at a convenience store, then made their way to a home in the 2300 block of 114A Avenue, where they used a garage door opener to get into an occupied home. The owner was asleep inside as the two men entered and took a Samsung tablet and the keys for the owner’s truck. One of the men drove off in the truck, the other in the Honda. The other suspect in the case, Anthony Kalt, pleaded guilty. Soper went to trial, arguing that it
couldn’t be proved he knew the Honda and debit card were stolen, and that he might not have been the second man in the car during the break in. There were multiple surveillance videos and still images collected of the suspects during the course of the night, and RCMP officers identified Soper fairly quickly after the incident. A Surrey RCMP officer, Cpl. Barros, saw circulating images of the suspects and identified Soper, saying he had surveilled him multiple times between 2012 and 2020 during auto crime investigations, and had once arrested Soper and had him in the back of Barros’s cruiser for 20 minutes. “During that time, Mr. Soper threatened Cpl. Barros and wanted to beat him up,” Iyer wrote. In his appeal, Soper’s lawyer argued that the original trial judge had made errors about the travel time between the convenience store and the burgled home, and in assuming that Soper was the same person who was with Kalt during the burglary and truck theft. The appeal argued that there were significant differences on video between the passengers in earlier and later videos. Iyer and her fellow judges dismissed this argument.
Man Police release video of alleged Metro Vancouver porch pirates Mounties in Metro Vancouver have released video of three people allegedly caught in the act of stealing a package from a porch in broad daylight and driving away in an SUV. The trio pulled up to the home in South Burnaby just before noon on Dec. 1, according to authorities. The video shows one man and two women, apparently working together to steal two packages. Police note that these crimes are more common this time of year, as gifts are ordered and delivered. “These suspects are definitely on Santa’s naughty list,” Burnaby RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Mike Kalanj said in the statement. “A good way to get your name on Santa’s nice list, or at least off the naughty list, would be to turn
yourself in before our investigators catch up with you,” Kalanj added.
Anyone who recognizes the people in the video is urged to call 604-646-9999 and quote file 202541885.
21 break-ins to homes reported in Metro Vancouver city in less than a month, police say Twenty-one break-ins to homes in a Metro Vancouver city have been reported in less than a month, authorities said Thursday in a warning to residents. In all of the cases, the suspects “gained entry through a rear sliding glass door,” the Coquitlam RCMP said in a statement, adding that most of the break-ins occurred between 2 and 9 p.m. in homes that back onto green spaces, trails or alleys. “We are actively investigating this recent series of break and enters in our community. Our officers are working diligently to identify those responsible and keep our community safe,” Sgt. Brent Misquita
said in a statement Thursday. “We are asking residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to police immediately. Your awareness and timely reporting can make a critical difference in apprehending those involved in these incidents.” Installing alarms and security cameras is recommended, if possible. Using timers or smart devices to turn lights and TVs on while away from home is also advised, as is securing all doors and windows. Anyone with information is urged to call the detachment at (604) 945-1550.
Vancouver's plan to replace Downtown Eastside rooming houses doesn't convince residents Downtown Eastside resident Brian O'Donnell lives in a single-room occupancy hotel in Chinatown, although he says it's not really a home. "It's livable," said O'Donnell, who added that he felt like a "house mother" to fellow tenants. "It's got a roof over my head." O'Donnell was one of hundreds of people who spoke to Vancouver city council as it debated a policy change to alter zoning rules and increase density.
He said his biggest worry about the plan is gentrification and displacement of entrenched members of the community in favour of moneyed interests looking to cash in on redevelopment opportunities. The City of Vancouver calls the plan, approved on Tuesday night, a "significant shift" in housing policy for the Downtown Eastside to speed up the replacement of rooming houses in
the impoverished neighbourhood. It includes changing "inclusionary housing requirements," reducing the percentage of social housing rental units from 60 per cent down to 20 per cent for housing delivered to the city at no cost in the Downtown Eastside Oppenheimer District. It also changes the definition of social housing in the neighbourhood, and reduces the proportion of units in a building required to be rented out at income assistance shelter rates from 33 per cent to 20 per cent. It's those reductions and other aspects of the plan that have O'Donnell and community advocates angry with Mayor Ken Sim and others in his party who approved the changes despite community opposition. "It's still not enough and they want to reduce it," O'Donnell said in an interview in an alley not far from his hotel. The new amendments also will allow for towers up to 32 storeys to replace single-room occupancy buildings. O'Donnell said such a significant change would not be tolerated in other parts of Vancouver. "Why don't you go to Kitsilano or Shaughnessy and [say] let's tear down all those old Victorian houses with asbestos in them and build towers there," he said. "They'd laugh at you."
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1 The Canada Education Savings Grant matches 20% of the first $2,500 you contribute to your child’s RESP each year up to a lifetime maximum of $7,200. BC Training and Education Savings Grant (BCTESG) is a one-time $1,200 grant available to BC resident children born on or after January 1st, 2006. Children are eligible for the BCTESG on their sixth birthday. You have until the day before your child’s ninth birthday to apply for the BCTESG. Conditions apply. ™ The Canadian Scholarship Trust Plan is a registered trademark of the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation. The CST Plan is only sold by Prospectus. You can get copies of the prospectus from www.cst.org or by calling 1.877.333.RESP(7377). MH1100(2017-04)
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025
BC grocery store to pay $750K after washroom videos ended up on porn site A Vancouver Island grocery store has agreed to pay $750,000 to settle a voyeurism class-action lawsuit brought by women who were secretly filmed in the bathroom by a former employee who uploaded the images to a Russian porn site. The case was brought by former store employees Jennifer Burke and Mallory Colter against Red Barn Market and Matthew Schwabe, the store's former assistant manager who was convicted of voyeurism charges in 2021. The ruling from the B.C. Supreme Court in Victoria dated Dec. 8 also orders Schwabe to hand over all recordings of the plaintiffs to them, and declares all "copyright worldwide" over the material is assigned to them. In 2016, police began investigating the allegations of voyeurism that took place in the washroom of the Saanich, B.C., market, and Schwabe was
charged in 2019. He later pleaded guilty to unlawfully observing and recording eight young women and unlawfully publishing intimate images of nine women. Schwabe was sentenced to 15 months in custody followed by two years of probation. Red Barn at Mattick's Ltd. was ordered to pay $750,000 within 14 days.
Rain, wind and snowfall warnings in place across BC Continued from Page 1... • 10 centimetres of snow could fall on the Central Coast. • Intense snowfall and strong gusts are forecast for around Prince George and in the Peace Region. • The intense weather Thursday comes after 120,000 B.C. Hydro customers were left without power on Wednesday at the peak of a previous storm. Storm knocks out power for thousands across B.C. 'Extensive damage' to B.C.'s Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton, as latest storm cuts power The Fraser Valley is still recovering from flooding that triggered states of local emergency, forced hundreds to evacuate and shut down
highways last week. Parts of Chilliwack remain under flood warning, meaning river levels have exceeded or are expected to imminently exceed river banks, resulting in flooding in nearby areas. On Wednesday, the City of Abbotsford lifted all existing evacuation alerts, for about 500 properties. It downgraded the only remaining evacuation order, for 11 properties, to an alert. The city later rescinded the alert for those 11 remaining properties Thursday, and said it is moving to flood recovery as the water levels of the Sumas and Nooksack rivers decrease. Residents returning to their properties can find guidance around coming home after a flood on the city's website.
What the US wants from Canada on trade With US-Canada trade talks still on hold, American officials have laid out their clearest demands yet for keeping free trade in place between the two countries. The list includes further opening the Canadian dairy market to US farmers, and overhauling an online streaming law that the US says "discriminates" against American tech and media firms. The US also wants Canadian provinces to lift their ban on selling American liquor, which was put in place earlier this year in response to the sweeping tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. These demands and more were outlined by US trade representative Jamieson Greer before a Congressional committee on Wednesday, as part of a broader review of a North American free trade pact - known as the USMCA - that is now under way. Both Canada and Mexico want it extended, although Trump has mused about leaving the agreement. Greer told Congress that the USMCA has been "successful to a certain degree" but changes must be made for it to continue. Here is a breakdown of what the US wants from Canada. An enduring sore spot for the US has been Canada's dairy supply-management system. Trump himself has raised it several times, including in a letter earlier this year threatening Canada with a 35% blanket tariff rate. In it, he accused Canada of charging "extraordinary tariffs to our dairy farmers - up to 400 per cent". Canadian dairy is produced under what is known as a supply-management system, which strictly controls production quotas and imports to support local farmers. The result is Canadians often paying higher prices for dairy products because of the restrictions.v Some US dairy products are allowed in Canada tariff-free up to a certain limit. That limit has never been reached, however, meaning Canadian tariffs on US dairy have not been imposed. Canada is among the top importers of US dairy, buying $1.1bn worth of products in 2024. But the US believes the framework as it stands unfairly restricts market access for its dairy products in Canada, Greer said, and that Canada
must bolster access under the USMCA. Greer also wants Canada to address its exports of "certain dairy products" to America. The US has accused Canada of dumping nonfat milk solids to international markets at a low price, undercutting competition. Carney said in August that dairy supply management is not "on the table" in ongoing trade talks with the US. But, in the last review of USMCA during Trump's first term, Canada conceded and permitted greater access for US dairy products at low or zero tariffs. Another point of contention is a Canadian law called the Online Streaming Act, which was passed in 2023 by the government of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The law requires American media companies like Netflix and Spotify to pay to support Canadian content and promote it on their platforms. It also gives Canada's broadcast regulator powers to impose financial penalties on any companies that violate the act. Its purpose is to protect Canadian media "to the benefit of future generations of artists and creators in Canada", the government has said. Greer told Congress that the legislation "discriminates against US tech and media firms" and that the policy needs to be revised, though he did not specify how. He added the US is also looking for resolution on the Online News Act, a separate Canadian law that requires tech giants like Meta and Google to pay news outlets for content that appears on their platforms in Canada. The law has been contentious, with Meta blocking news access for Canadian users on Facebook and Instagram since its inception to protest the changes.
India’s exports jumped 20 percent, despite Trump’s trade war?
Continued from Page 1... Earlier this year, the US slapped an additional 25 percent tariff on India in retaliation for its continued purchases of Russian oil, Trump said, bringing total tariffs to 50 percent. The November rise in Indian exports also comes as China recorded a trade surplus of more than $1 trillion, in part reflecting how global trade flows are being reshaped as a result of the Trump trade wars. The export figures, reported this week by India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, reflected resilient demand for Indian goods and a strategy of diversifying to new export markets, the ministry said, an approach other countries are also adopting as they look to reduce reliance on the US. India’s goods exports were valued at $38.13bn in November 2025, up about 19.4 percent year-on-year. This was a reversal of the 11.8 percent year-on-year decline in exports to $34.38bn that India recorded in October. Imports, especially of gold, oil, and coal, also decreased by 1.88 percent, helping to shrink India’s goods trade deficit to about $24.5bn, its lowest level since June. In October, the trade deficit had ballooned to $41.68bn.According to the Commerce Ministry, key drivers for strong exports included engineering goods, electronics and pharmaceuticals. Despite the new tariffs, India’s exports to the US – its largest single destination – grew by 22 percent in November, reaching approximately $7bn.
The healthiest export sectors were engineering, electronics, jewellery and gems, and pharmaceuticals. “India has held fort on the US exports despite tariffs,” Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said at a press briefing. Meanwhile, shipments to China surged by 90 percent year-on-year to $2.2bn. China recorded notably higher Indian imports, with electronics and engineering goods seeing sizeable increases. The Commerce Ministry added that exports to Spain, the United Arab Emirates and Tanzania were also driving growth. In part, November’s figures include Indian sales of goods that are not subject to US trade tariffs, Sambit Bhattacharyya, professor of economics at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom, said. “India’s exports of electronics and pharmaceuticals to the US increased, and these product categories are exempt from tariffs. Furthermore, tea, coffee, spices and other food items were also added to the exemption list, and all of them are experiencing steady growth.” However, analysts also say continued healthy exports to the US signal that traders expect it to eventually relax tariffs on other goods, as the two countries are still working towards a trade deal. In November, for example, New Delhi and Washington signed a long-term contract under which state-owned Indian companies IOC, BPCL and HPCL will buy 2.2 million metric tonnes of US liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) each year. That represents 10 percent of India’s total LPG imports.
FIJI
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025
FCCC approves tiered electricity tariff increase, effective January 2026
The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) has approved a revised electricity tariff increase of 24.2 percent, significantly lower than the 37 percent proposed by Energy Fiji Limited (EFL). The new rates, effective 1 January 2026, introduce a tiered structure for domestic and commercial customes to better reflect consumption. “Every assumption was rigorously assessed against actual consumption trends, cost of service principles, and Fiji’s National Renewable Energy objectives,” said FCCC Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Senikavika Jiuta. “We did not approve the proposed 37 percent increase, and instead allowed 24.2 percent because the revised plan is fair to the average consumer, necessary to maintain system reliability, and essential to securing Fiji’s future energy needs in a
sustainable manner.” The new tiered framework for households introduces three consumption levels: Tier 1: 0–100 kWh – no change; 98,843 households (52%) will continue paying 34 cents per kWh.
Tier 2: 101–300 kWh – slight increase to 35 cents per kWh, affecting 76,952 households (40%). Tier 3: Above 300 kWh – increase to 36 cents per kWh, impacting about 16,000 households (8%). Ms. Jiuta said, “For example, a household using 150 units a month will see their bill increase by just 51 cents, while a high-usage household above 300 units will pay an extra $2.04 per month.” Commercial customers will now follow a fourtier structure reflecting consumption from 0–1,000 units up to above 10,001 units per month.
Seed grants help welfare recipients Six social welfare recipients have received seed grant assistance under the Government’s Welfare Graduation Program, aimed at helping families transition from welfare dependence to sustainable livelihoods. Totalling about $11,000, the assistance was provided by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection and is intended to support recipients to start or expand small businesses, including canteen operations, jewellery making, flower arrangements, frozen food sales, and smallscale farming. The program reflects Government’s commitment to empowering vulnerable families earn their own income and gradually move away from relying on social welfare support.
Director of Social Protection Veremo Muria facilitated the handover of assistance in several communities. In Nasinu, two recipients received support to grow small businesses, while assistance was also provided in Nalidi Village, Ra, Delasui Village, Nasinu Village in Dawasamu, and Naloto Village in Verata. Mr Muria said the program focuses on helping recipients build sustainable livelihoods rather than short-term relief. He also stressed the importance of good business practices, advising recipients to keep business finances and decisions separate from cultural and family obligations, which can affect profitability and growth.
Pryde claims Fijian “agents” conducted surveillance outside his NZ home Suspended Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde has raised serious concerns after claiming that Fijian government agents allegedly conducted surveillance outside his Christchurch home last month, questioning his neighbour about his whereabouts and family. Mr Pryde said the incident occurred on 17 November, a day after he returned from Dunedin following his mother’s funeral. His neighbour informed him that three men had been sitting in a car outside his house for some time. “One of the men, who identified himself only as ‘Tony’, approached my neighbour and questioned him about my whereabouts and asked other personal questions concerning my wife and daughter,” Mr Pryde said in a statement issued yesterday. According to Mr Pryde, the neighbour became
suspicious and asked about the other two men in the car. After initial hesitation, “Tony” allegedly confirmed they were “agents of the Fijian government” and told the neighbour not to inform Mr Pryde of their visit. Troubled by the encounter, the neighbour later approached local Member of Parliament Hamish Campbell to report the incident. Mr Pryde said he also visited his MP the following day to express his “extreme discomfit that such incidents should be allowed to occur on New Zealand soil.” He was advised to file a police report, which he has since done. “I am greatly concerned that officials from the Fijian government should be permitted to conduct surveillance on my house and accost my neighbours with personal questions about me and my family,” he said.
Pak national at centre of alleged forged documents case A Pakistani national is at the centre of an alleged forged documents case after Mohammed Junaid appeared at the Lautoka Magistrates Court charged with multiple offences relating to the possession and use of falsified documents. Junaid faces a total of 12 charges, including using false documents and giving false information to a public servant. It is alleged he overstayed his visitor’s visa after arriving in Fiji in October 2024. He is alleged to have obtained a Fijian birth certificate in the name of Mohammed Iqbal Khan. He is also alleged to have used that birth certificate to obtain Fijian passport, a Fijian drivers license and a TIN card. A former Births, Deaths and Registrations clerk, Jone Matawalu is charged
alongside Mohammed Junaid. A former Births, Deaths and Registrations clerk, Jone Matawalu is charged alongside Mohammed Junaid. Both appeared at the Lautoka Magistrates Court yesterday afternoon facing charges related to the forging and use of falsified documents. Matawalu is charged with one count of abuse of office, one count of receiving a bribe of $3,000, one count of issuing a false certificate by a public officer and one count of falsification of documents. Mohammed is charged with four counts of possession of false documents, four counts of using false documents, two counts of giving information derived from false documents and two counts of giving false information to a public servant.
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TD03F upgraded to tropical depression, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to Fiji Tropical Disturbance TD03F has been upgraded to a Tropical Depression and is expected to bring heavy rain and strong northerly winds to Fiji over the coming days. According to the Fiji Meteorological Service, TD03F remains slow-moving over open waters northeast of Vanuatu and is currently tracking southeastward between Fiji and Vanuatu. The system is forecast to enter Fiji waters on Tuesday (16 December) and exit through the Lau Group by late Wednesday (17 December). While TD03F has a low potential of developing into a tropical cyclone, its associated trough of low pressure is already affecting Fiji, producing overcast conditions and intermittent to persistent rainfall. Strong northerly winds, averaging 50
km/h with gusts up to 70 km/h, are expected from Tuesday through Wednesday. These winds will particularly affect the northern parts of Vanua Levu, Yasawa and Mamanuca Groups, northern Lau, and Lomaiviti Groups. Mariners should expect northerly winds of 15–20 knots with moderate to rough seas, worsening to up to 30 knots with gusts of 40 knots on Wednesday over Vanua Levu waters, the Yasawa and Mamanuca Groups, the Koro Sea, and northern Lau waters. The tropical depression is forecast to maintain unsettled conditions across Fiji through Wednesday, with rainfall increasing as TD03F approaches from the west. Gradual improvement is expected from Thursday.
Human rights body condemns online abuse THE ongoing issue of online abuse and harassment targeting human rights defenders in Fiji has drawn strong condemnation from the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission. The commission expressed deep concern over recent incidents following Human Rights Day 2025, highlighting the damaging effects on activists and the wider community. Commission director Loukinikini Lewaravu stressed that freedom of expression is not a license for hate speech, online abuse, or the incitement of violence and harassment. She emphasised the importance of protecting fundamental rights while calling for respect and dignity to ensure that all Fijians are heard and can participate meaningfully in national
development. “Human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, must be able to carry out their work without fear of intimidation, harassment, or reprisals, whether in physical, digital, or public spaces,” she said. Ms Lewaravuurged the public to reject hateful content and support the protection of everyone’s dignity and rights. “A society that protects its human rights defenders protects itself,” she said. The commission called for collective responsibility to protect human rights defenders, continue promoting a culture of respect, dignity, and tolerance for diverse opinions and civil society engagement, and hold accountable those who violate the rights of others.
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025
MoS Anupriya Patel holds bilateral health talks with Sri Lanka, Fiji at 2nd WHO Traditional Medicine Summit Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel, held cordial and constructive meetings with health ministers from Sri Lanka and Fiji on the sidelines of the 2nd WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit in the national capital on Thursday, underscoring India's strong bilateral ties and commitment to health cooperation in the region.During the interaction with Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Health & Mass Media of Sri Lanka, the discussions focused on ongoing health collaborations, avenues to deepen cooperation in the coming years further, and India's enduring commitment to stand as a trusted and reliable partner to Sri Lanka, according to the
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. "Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare Smt. Anupriya Patel held a cordial and constructive meeting with H.E. Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Health & Mass Media of Sri Lanka, today in New Delhi, on the sidelines of the 2nd WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit. The interaction underscored the strength of the India-Sri Lanka partnership, with discussions on ongoing health cooperation, avenues to further deepen collaboration in the coming years, and India's enduring commitment to stand with Sri Lanka as a trusted and reliable partner," the ministry stated in a post on X.
"Jamaat-e-Islami acting at behest of Pakistan": Former diplomat Veena Sikri on anti-India protests in Bangladesh Former Indian diplomat Veena Sikri on Thursday accused Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami of acting at the behest of Pakistan amid an anti-India march to India's High Commission in the neighbouring country, claiming Pakistan's effort to take control of the Bangladesh army. Speaking, former diplomat Sikri criticised Bangladesh Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus for his silence over anti-India statements in the country. Sikri said, "We do know that the regime change operation was supported by external powers, by the Western powers, but it was done through Pakistan. It was done through Pakistan, and Pakistan's biggest conduit in Bangladesh is the Jamaat-e-Islami. The Jamaat-e-Islami is acting at
the behest of Pakistan. So this is their plan." "Pakistan's first effort in Bangladesh is to try to embed itself with the Bangladesh army. They want to take control of the Bangladesh army, and they have sent their officers; they're putting their officers in every division. It's a very dangerous and provocative situation and a great concern for India. When such statements were made, the Yunus regime did nothing. This means you agreed with them," the former diplomat told ANI. This comes after the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Dhaka temporarily closed its operations due to security concerns over an anti-Indian march to its High Commission in Bangladesh.
SOUTH ASIA
Former Bangladesh PM Zia's health continues to be critical: Doctor
Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia remains critical even as she continues to receive treatment at a Dhaka hospital, her personal doctor AZM Zahid Hossain said on Thursday. Zia, the 80-year-old chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has been undergoing treatment at Dhaka's Evercare Hospital since November 23 for multiple health complications and was shifted to a coronary care unit (CCU) later. On December 11, she was placed on “ventilator support to give rest to her lungs and other vital organs.” “She is receiving the treatment being given to her properly. Her physical condition continues to stay the same as
it was a few days ago,” Hossain, also a member of BNP's policy making standing committee, told reporters. He also described Zia's condition as “stable” and expected she “will recover and be able to play her proper role in the country's politics.” Zia's medical board, in a statement on December 11, said she was kept under round the clock medical watch by a team of local and foreign specialists, as several of her vital organs continued to be under severe stress. She was scheduled to be flown to London last week with the medical board's consent but her departure was delayed as an air ambulance offered by Qatar could not reach Dhaka.
India resumes visa centre operation in Dhaka, functioning suspended at two others India on Thursday resumed operations at its visa application centre in Dhaka, a day after it was closed due to escalated security concerns, but shut two other centres in Bangladesh on similar grounds, officials and reports said. The Indian Visa Application Centres (IVACs) in southwestern Khulna and northwestern Rajshahi were closed citing security concerns. There are five IVAC centres in Bangladesh. Besides those in Dhaka, Khulna and Rajshahi, the others are located in the southeastern port city of Chattogram and in northeastern Sylhet. The IVAC at Dhaka’s Jamuna Future Park serves as the main, integrated centre for all Indian visa services in the capital. “The Indian Visa Application Centre in Dhaka is now operational and functioning normally,” an IVAC official told PTI. The Dhaka centre had announced a temporary closure on Wednesday amid heightened tensions, after a large group of anti-India protesters moved
towards the Indian High Commission. However, the IVAC said on its website that the centres in Khulna and Rajshahi were closed on Thursday. “In view of the ongoing security situation, we wish to bring to your kind notice that IVAC Rajshahi and Khulna will be closed today (18.12.2025). All applicants who have appointment slots booked for submission today will be given a slot at a later date,” it said. Earlier on Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Bangladesh’s envoy to India, Riaz Hamidullah, and conveyed its strong concern over certain extremist elements announcing plans to create a security situation around the Indian mission in Dhaka. “We expect the interim government to ensure the safety of Missions and Posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations,” the MEA said, adding that the envoy was apprised of India’s concerns over the deteriorating security environment in the country.
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025
PUNJAB
AAP wins rural body poll in 17 Punjab districts The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has emerged as the leading party in 17 of the 22 Punjab districts in the zila parishad and in 18 districts in the panchayat samiti elections conducted on December 14, the counting for which started on Wednesday. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal claimed the party had won around 70 per cent of the seats, calling it an “endorsement of the state government’s policies”.
However, despite leading in most of the districts, AAP has won a clear majority in only 12 of the 22 districts (in zila parishad polls) that went to the polls. Elections to the Mohali zila parishad and one panchayat samiti had been postponed. AAP won a clear majority in the
zila parishads of Amritsar, Barnala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Mansa, Malerkotla, Moga, Patiala, Sangrur and Tarn Taran. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) secured a majority in Bathinda and Muktsar, with party leaders insisting that they would also get a clear mandate in Faridkot. The Congress, the principal opposition party in the state, secured the second highest number of seats, but got a clear zila parishad majority only in Nawanshahr. In the seven districts of Faridkot, Ferozepur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Pathankot and Ropar, no party has a clear zila parishad mandate. In five of these districts, AAP has won the highest number of seats, while the SAD bagged the maximum in Faridkot and the Congress in Ferozepur. AAP has emerged victorious in 218 (63 per cent) of the 347 zila parishad zones. In the panchayat samiti poll, the party won 1,529 (54 per cent) of the 2,834 zones, according to the results declared by the State Election Commission. The elections were held for 2,838 zones, but the results are yet to be announced for three zones in Gurdaspur and one in Fazilka district. While there were allegations of invalid ballot papers being used in Fazilka, the nomination papers of all candidates were rejected in the three Gurdaspur zones.
NGT grants interim stay on Punjab farmhouse policy The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday granted an interim stay on the implementation of the Punjab Government’s policy to allow approval and regularisation of lowimpact green habitats in areas abutting forests. The policy has been stayed until the next date of hearing — February 4. The policy affects nearly 55,000 hectares of land taken out of the purview of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900. The policy was aimed to benefit VIPs, including
politicians and serving and retired bureaucrats. Environmentalists and foresters alleged that the policy had been brought to regularise farmhouses of bigwigs in areas abutting forests with rich flora and fauna. The petitioners — Kapil Dev, Ganesh Khurana and Mohit Jain — challenged the policy, alleging that it violated the Supreme Court’s directions regarding land taken out of the purview of the PLPA.
Detained Punjab MP Amritpal Singh misses winter session of Parliament as HC terms plea infructuous Detained MP Amritpal Singh will not be able to attend the ongoing winter session of Parliament, with the Punjab and Haryana High Court holding that his petition seeking permission to do so had virtually become infructuous. At the very outset, a Bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu questioned the very executability of any order, even if it were to be passed in the petitioner’s favour. The Bench noted that the logistical reality of transporting the detainee from Dibrugarh in Assam to Delhi made the relief impracticable, observing that the distance was such that it would take at least 10 hours even by helicopter, if not more. In these circumstances, the court observed that the petitioner could always approach the court again when a fresh cause of action arose, effectively suggesting that the issue could be agitated in a future parliamentary session. In its detailed order, the Bench also recorded that an effective hearing could not take place on December 15, 16 and 17 due to abstention from work by lawyers. The court noted that even on the day of hearing, while counsel for Amritpal Singh appeared, the arguments on behalf of the
respondents remained inconclusive. The counsel for the petitioner informed the court that the winter session of Parliament was scheduled to conclude on December 19. Since the respondents’ arguments remained incomplete on December 15 and the following day was the last sitting of the session, the Bench held the cause had “virtually become infructuous”. In view of these circumstances, the high court declined to proceed further, making it clear that no effective relief could now be granted for the ongoing session, while leaving it open for the petitioner to seek appropriate remedies if a similar situation arose in the future. Detained under the National Security Act since April 2023 and lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail, Amritpal had on December 16 appeared before the Bench through videoconferencing. The Khadoor Sahib MP said all work in his parliamentary constituency had come to a standstill due to his continued detention. He submitted that the NSA had prevented him from raising core public issues — floods, drugs and alleged fake encounters — on the floor of Parliament.
CBI court dismisses default bail plea of suspended DIG Harcharan Bhullar
A CBI court here on Thursday dismissed the default bail application filed by suspended Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar in a disproportionate assets case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered the case on October 29, 11 days after Bhullar was arrested in a corruption case. Bhullar and his alleged aide, Kirshanu Sharda, were arrested on October 16, 2025, for allegedly seeking bribe from a complainant. According to the CBI, Bhullar was allegedly demanding illegal payments from a scrap dealer of Mandi Gobindgarh through Sharda. Following the arrest, the agency conducted raids at various locations linked to Bhullar. Based on the assets allegedly unearthed during the searches, the CBI
registered a separate disproportionate assets case against him. The agency claimed that during the investigation, it seized huge amounts of cash. Gold jewellery, silver items and 26 branded and expensive watches were also recovered. Documents related to immovable properties were also seized. SPS Bhullar, counsel for the suspended DIG, argued that since the CBI had failed to file a chargesheet within 60 days of registering the first FIR, the accused was entitled to default bail under the law. He contended that the period for default bail should be calculated from the registration of the first FIR, as the disproportionate assets case was an offshoot of the original corruption case.
Uzbek woman shot at in Ludhiana by Faridkot-based friend over refusal to go on long drive
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A 34-year-old Uzbek woman is fighting for life at a multispecialty hospital in Ludhiana after she was shot in the chest by her friend from Faridkot for refusing to go on a long drive a week ago. The accused, Balwinder Singh, a resident of Harinder Nagar in Faridkot, and his accomplice from Mohalla Raghubir Park, Jassian Road, Ludhiana, have been arrested and sent to judicial remand. The duo ws booked under Sections 109, 3(5) and 351 (3) for alleged attempt to murder in connivance with several persons and criminal intimidation involving threat of death or grievous injury. The police explained that the undue delay in registration of case and action against the accused was caused due to non-submission of statement by the victim as the doctors had not declared her fit for statement earlier. Investigations revealed that a passerby had shifted the victim, Asligun Sparova, after she was shot by the accused near a hotel on Pakhowal road on December 11 afternoon. The passerby informed the authorities at the hospital and the police that two unknown persons had fled from the scene following an altercation.
Subsequent investigations revealed that Sparova had been staying at a hotel at Daad village on Pakhowal Road for about six months, though she had been in India for about a year. In her statement recorded before the police, led by SHO Sadar Jagdev Singh, Sparova alleged that Balwinder had visited her on the fateful day and asked her to accompany him and his friend for a long drive in his car. On her refusal to his proposal, Balwinder Singh threatened her of dire consequences and shot her in the chest before fleeing from the scene. While the victim is undergoing treatment at the hospital and both accused had been sent in judicial remand, the police are yet to ascertain the sequence of events leading to the crime and how the accused got acquainted to her.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025
INDIA
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Multiple nations issue travel advisory as major city suffers from suffocating smog: 'Extremely high levels' New Delhi's dense smog and alarmingly poor air quality are drawing attention from countries around the world. The Times of India reported on a wave of travel advisories issued by countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada, cautioning travelers about the deteriorating conditions. "Severe air pollution is a major health hazard, especially during the winter months from October to February," the UK's advisory stated. "North Indian Cities are most affected by extremely high levels of pollution." Levels of particulates — tiny airborne solids and liquids — at 40 weather stations in the area far exceeded the safe upper limit of 50 on the global air quality index (AQI). The AQI does not exceed 500, and areas of India were approaching that level. Travel hub Anand Vihar hit a nearmaximum of 493, for example. Any level between 300 and 400 is considered "very poor," while 400-500 is categorized as "severe." Thirty-eight of Delhi's nearby stations recorded "severe" readings, with two receiving a "very poor" mark. The AP added that even if you're trying to get
to Delhi, it'd be highly chaotic, with dozens of canceled flights and severely delayed trains. "New Delhi is a gas chamber right now," Naresh Dang, a physician at Max Healthcare, told the AP. " Air purifiers can help only a bit, so it's high time the government comes up with some permanent solutions." While travelers from foreign countries can avoid traveling, residents face their own challenges in staying safe. Videos of residents finding refuge from the toxic outside air inside shopping malls have gone viral. Another concern is the nature of the pollution that residents are unknowingly breathing in. A study found that residents in major Indian cities, including New Delhi, were taking in microplastics, heavy metals, and more due to the rampant pollution. Heavily polluted air can contribute to health issues such as headaches and fatigue among healthy people. It can turn more serious for the elderly, children, pregnant women, and people with preexisting conditions. PM2.5 particles — measuring 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter — are particularly harmful and can lead to serious illnesses such as lung cancer and stroke.
Parliament clears G RAM G Bill amid tearing of papers by Opposition Amid scenes of disruption and a sustained vociferous Opposition protest, Parliament on Thursday passed the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, by voice vote. The legislation will replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The Bill was cleared after Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan delivered his reply under extreme din in both Houses, with Opposition MPs continuously raising slogans, entering the well and, at one point, tearing
and throwing papers in the air, forcing Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to intervene sternly. “The people have not sent you here to throw papers. I gave adequate time for discussion. This is against parliamentary culture,” Birla said, repeatedly urging members to return to their seats as the minister struggled to be heard. Before Chouhan could begin his address in the Lower House, Congress leader KC Venugopal rose and requested the Speaker to send the Bill to a parliamentary committee for further scrutiny. However, his request was rejected as Speaker Birla said sufficient time was awarded to everyone for a discussion a day back. Opening his reply, Chouhan said he had patiently listened to members till 1.30 am the previous night and asserted his right to respond. “This is not in keeping with democratic traditions. Not allowing a reply is an attack on the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi,” he said.
Nitish-naqab row escalates after Giriraj says woman can 'go to hell'
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was in the crosshairs of a controversy for the fourth day on Thursday. The chorus of outrage from across sections only grew louder after a Union Minister defended Nitish's act of pulling down a Muslim woman's veil. The original incident took place on Monday at the CM's secretariat in Patna when Ayush doctors had gathered to receive their letters of appointment. When the woman came up for her letter, Kumar saw her 'naqab', said “what is this” and then removed the veil. As Opposition parties asked Kumar for an unconditional apology and others articulated their distress, Union Minister Giriraj Singh waded into the row, saying it was up to the woman to refuse
the appointment or "go to hell". The Bihar CM had done nothing wrong, Singh insisted. "If someone is going to collect an appointment letter, should they not show their face? Is this some Islamic country? Nitish Kumar acted as a guardian," he argued. "If you are going to get a passport, do you not show your face? When you go to the airport, do you not show your face? People talk about Pakistan and Englishtan, but this is India. In India, the rule of law prevails," Singh added. Responding to reports that the woman had refused to take up the job following the incident, he said, "Whether she refuses the job or goes to hell, that's her choice (Woh refuse kare ya jahannum mein jaye)."
Growing trend of judges 'hitting sixes' days before retirement: SC The Supreme Court has disapproved of the "growing trend" of judges passing "so many orders" just before they retire, saying it was like a batter "hitting sixes" in the final overs of a match. "Petitioner just before retirement started hitting sixes. It is an unfortunate trend. I do not want to elaborate on it…There is a growing trend of judges passing so many orders just before retirement,” a
Bench led by CJI Surya Kant said on Wednesday. The top court was hearing a petition filed by a Madhya Pradesh Principal and District Judge challenging a Full Court decision of the high court to suspend him just 11 days before his scheduled retirement over some ‘questionable’ judicial orders. The judicial officer, who was due to retire on November 30, was suspended on November 19.
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025