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☆ Pakistani police fire tear gas at protesting students as anger spreads over alleged on-campus rape
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Lahore, Pakistan AP —Pakistani police fired tear gas and charged at student protesters who ransacked a college building Thursday, as anger spread over an alleged on-campus rape, prompting the government to shut schools, colleges and universities for two days. Tensions have been high on college campuses since reports of the alleged rape in the eastern city of Lahore spread on social media, and protests have broken out in four cities. Thursday’s violence started when hundreds of students demonstrated outside a campus in the city of Rawalpindi in Punjab province. They also arrested a man who is accused of spreading misinformation on social media about the alleged rape and inciting students to violence. But Punjab police on Thursday urged people to share any information about the alleged rape.

Persons: ransacking, Mohammad Afzal, Mauz Ullah, ”, Usman Ghani, don’t, Hasna Cheema, ” Cheema Organizations: Pakistan AP, Police, Wednesday . Police, Punjab Group, Colleges, Federal Investigation Agency, Aurat Foundation, Social Development Organization, Sindh province . Police Locations: Lahore, Pakistan, Rawalpindi, Punjab province, Gujrat, Punjab, Islami, Sindh province

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the state's criminal investigation agency, said Wednesday it is looking into allegations against an Erwin plastics factory where several workers died and some went missing after they were swept away by floodwaters from Hurricane Helene. Relatives of the missing and deceased workers and factory employees who survived have alleged they were made to show up to work despite the hurricane moving through the area. Fernando Ruiz, the son of Lidia Verdugo, one of the plant workers, also confirmed to NBC News that his mother had died. Impact Plastics has expressed sympathy for the missing and deceased workers but said in a statement that workers were given time to leave the factory. The company said five workers and a contractor were on a truck that was tipped over in the floodwaters.

Persons: Hurricane Helene, Steve Finney, Leslie Earhart, Finney, Robbie Jarvis, Jarvis, Brianna Paciorka, Network Bertha Mendoza, Guillermo Mendoza, Fernando Ruiz, Lidia Verdugo Organizations: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Erwin, Judicial, Impact Plastics, NBC News, Attorney General's, NBC, Plastics, Impact Plastics Inc, Sentinel, USA, Network Locations: Hurricane, Erwin, Tenn

☆ Inside Russia's 'military Disneyland,' a Manhattan-sized theme park that puts the country's deadly weaponry on display
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( Lauren Frias | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The head of a Russian military theme park was arrested on fraud charges amid a corruption crackdown. Photos show guests climbing atop tanks, firing Russian firearms, and posing with theme park mascots. Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementThe head of a Russian theme park dubbed a "military Disneyland" was placed under house arrest Tuesday amid a crackdown on corruption in Moscow's defense ministry.

Persons: Vyacheslav Akhmedov, —, Vladimir Shesterov Organizations: Service, Patriot, Business Locations: Russian

☆ Putin hosts India’s PM to deepen ties, but Ukraine looms over their relationship
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi walk during their meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence near Moscow, Russia July 8, 2024. Their partnership has become more complicated, however, as Russia has moved closer to China amid international isolation of Moscow over Ukraine. Russian state media reported that they would also discuss Moscow helping India build more nuclear power plants. The two countries already are collaborating on the Kudankulam nuclear power project in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. With Moscow's arms industries mostly serving the Russian military in Ukraine, India has been diversifying its defense procurements, buying more from the U.S., Israel, France and Italy.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi, Putin, Modi, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Matthew Miller, Vinay Mohan Kwatra Organizations: India's, Indian, NATO, . State Department, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, India, Russian Locations: Moscow, Russia, Washington, Ukraine, China, Kazakhstan, Beijing, Russian, Kyiv, India, New Delhi, Tamil Nadu, United States, Vladivostok, Uzbekistan, U.S, Israel, France, Italy, Chennai, East

CNN —Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi has threatened to send 20,000 elephants to Germany amid a dispute over the import of hunting trophies. ”Twenty thousand elephants for Germany, this is not a joke,” Masisi told German tabloid Bild. Lenin Nolly/Sipa USA/AP/FileMasisi told Bild that Germany’s Green party could learn to cohabitate with elephants without hunting them. According to the ministry, Germany is one of the largest importers of hunting trophies in the European Union, and African hunting trophies already require import authorization under current rules. Trophy hunting does not come close to diminishing the elephant population, Masisi told broadcaster Sky News.

Persons: CNN —, Mokgweetsi Masisi, ” Masisi, –, Steffi Lemke, Lenin, Masisi, ”, Murat Ozgur Guvendik, “, ” Botswana’s, Botswana’s, Iris Throm, Mary Rice, Rice, Bild, you’d Organizations: CNN, Green, Getty, Botswana’s Ministry of Environment, Tourism, European Union, Germany’s Federal Agency for Nature, Environmental Investigation Agency, Sky News, Convention, International Trade, Fauna Locations: Germany, Berlin, Botswana, Masisi, Anadolu, Angola, Mozambique

☆ A $20m mansion home was built on top of a 400ft skyscraper. The tycoon owner may never get to live in it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A $20-million sky mansion sits on top of a 33-story luxury apartment complex in India. The spectacular home was designed for businessman Vijay Mallya. AdvertisementVijay Mallya might never get to live in the mansionThere's a real possibility that Mallya won't ever get to live in the sky mansion. Indian businessman Vijay Mallya arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, February 2020. On the list were defense dealer Sanjay Bhandari, diamond trader Nirav Modi, and Vijay Mallya.

Persons: Vijay Mallya, Mallya, —, Vijay, instagram Irfan Razac, superrich, Ambani, Ashwin, Tom Tugendhat, Sanjay Bhandari, Nirav Modi Organizations: Service, Prestige Estates, Business, Kingfisher, Financial Times, Royal, of Justice, Reuters, of State Security, Press Trust of, The, India's Central Bureau of Investigation, National Investigation Agency Locations: India, Bengaluru, Mumbai, London, Reuters India, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, British, Press Trust of India, The Times

☆ Russia says 60 dead, 145 injured in concert hall raid; Islamic State group claims responsibility
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Gunmen who opened fire at a Moscow concert hall killed more than 60 people and wounded over 100 while sparking an inferno, authorities said on March 23, 2024, with the Islamic State group claiming responsibility. The prosecutor's office said several men in combat fatigues entered the concert hall and fired on concertgoers. Working to extinguish the blaze continues at Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow, Russia after reports of a shooting incident on March 23, 2024. Working to extinguish the blaze continues at Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow, Russia after reports of a shooting incident on March 23, 2024. An injured woman is transported to an ambulance near the Crocus City Hall concert venue following a reported shooting incident, near Moscow, Russia.

Persons: Stringer, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Sobyanin, Putin, fatigues, Ali Cura, Dave Primov, Primov, Aymenn Jawad, Dmitry Medvedev, Mykhailo Podolyak, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, John Kirby, Maksim Blinov Organizations: Crocus City, Gunmen, Islamic, Afp, Getty, Associated Press, Moscow, Health, Crocus City Hall, Anadolu, Russian, U.S, AP, Soviet Union, Russia's Security, White House National Security Council, Embassy, Sputnik Locations: Russian, Crocus, Krasnogorsk, Moscow, U.S, Afghanistan, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow's, Sinai, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Africa, Soviet, Islamic State, Kaluga, Ingushetia, Russia's Caucasus

☆ A California man charged with smuggling greenhouse gases hints at the revival of a decades-long black market
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

But there's also a blooming black market in greenhouse gases. HFCs are commonly used in refrigerators and air conditioners, but they're also potent greenhouse gases. There's been a thriving black market for climate-altering refrigerant chemicals since the 1990s, at times as lucrative as selling cocaine. KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty ImagesThe black market "comes with the territory" of regulation, Doniger said. At the height of the CFC black market, many cars still used those refrigerants for their air conditioners.

Persons: there's, hydrofluorocarbons, they're, Adrees Latif, Michael Hart, Tara McGrath, There's, Hart, Carlo Allegri, David Doniger, HFCs, Avipsa, Victor Molina, KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI, Mahapatra, Doniger Organizations: Service, Department of, Business, Facebook, Department of Justice, Reuters, Natural Resources Defense Council, NASA, Environmental Investigation Agency, Getty, EPA, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, DOJ, US Attorney's, Southern, of, New York Times, CFC Locations: San Diego, Mexico, Port of Miami, Montreal, Elk Grove Village , Illinois, AFP, United States, of California, HFCs, Europe

Many world leaders blamed President Vladimir Putin and his government for Navalny’s death Friday at age 47. Navalny’s team said he was “murdered,” and charged that officials' refusal to hand over his body was part of a cover-up. Yarmysh said that Navalny's mother and his lawyers weren't allowed into the morgue in Salekhard on Monday morning. The U.S. and British ambassadors also mourned Navalny's death at a memorial in Moscow. Over 50,000 people have submitted requests to the Russian government asking for Navalny's remains to be handed over to his relatives, OVD-Info said.

Persons: Alexei Navalny, Kira Yarmysh, Lyudmila Navalnaya, ” Yarmysh, Vladimir Putin, Navalny’s, “, ”, Yarmysh, weren't, Ivan Zhdanov, “ lackeys, Navalny's, Navalny, ” Navalny, Yulia Navalnaya Organizations: Investigative, Kremlin, Authorities, Russia’s Federal, Service, European Union Locations: Salekhard, Russia, U.S, Moscow, Russia’s, Kharp, Germany, Brussels

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine claimed Thursday it used sea drones to sink a Russian corvette in the Black Sea as Russian investigators alleged that a Russian military transport plane that crashed last month was brought down by two U.S.-made Patriot missiles fired by Kyiv’s forces. The lake has been more of a bay since 1961, when a channel connecting it to the Black Sea was dug out. The private security firm Ambrey said Ukraine used up to six sea drones, each of which usually carry 300 kilograms (661 pounds) of explosives, in the attack. Ambrey, the security company, noted that any unexploded drones could be a threat for Black Sea shipping. The two missiles were fired by the Ukrainian military from near the village of Lyptsi in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, it said.

Persons: GUR, Ambrey, Yuras Karmanau Organizations: —, U.S, Patriot, Russia’s, ___ Associated Press Locations: KYIV, Ukraine, — Ukraine, Russian, Donuzlav, Crimea, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Lyptsi, Kharkiv, Belgorod, Donetsk, Tsukuryne, Kherson, Beryslav, ___, Tallinn, Estonia, russia, ukraine

REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON/NEW DELHI, Nov 22 (Reuters) - The United States is treating a reported plot to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil with utmost seriousness and has raised the issue with the Indian government "at the senior-most levels," the White House said on Wednesday. The Financial Times reported, citing unnamed sources, that U.S. authorities thwarted a plot to kill a Sikh separatist in the United States and issued a warning to India over concerns the government in New Delhi was involved. It stated he threatened in video messages to not let Air India operate anywhere in the world. The case comes against the historical backdrop of a bombing in 1985 of an Air India aircraft flying from Canada to India that killed 329, and for which Sikh militants were blamed. Pannun told Reuters on Tuesday that his message was to "boycott Air India not bomb."

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Evelyn Hockstein, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Pannun, Adrienne Watson, Biden, Arindam Bagchi, Bagchi, Hardeep Singh, Shivam Patel, Krishn Kaushik, Jeff Mason, David Brunnstrom, Andrew Goudsward, Andrew Heavens, Alex Richardson, Alistair Bell Organizations: India's, White, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Financial Times, Air India, Indian, Washington, FBI, U.S . Justice, India's National Investigation Agency, Sikh, Reuters, Air, Justice, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, DELHI, United States, India, New Delhi, Canada, Vancouver, U.S, New York, Air India

That position is opposed by the plastic industry and by oil and petrochemical exporters like Saudi Arabia, who want to see plastic use continue. They argue that the treaty should focus on recycling and reusing plastics, sometimes referred to in the talks as "circularity" in the plastics supply. In a submission ahead of this week's negotiations, Saudi Arabia said the root cause of plastic pollution was "inefficient management of waste." "The plastics agreement should be focused on ending plastic pollution, not plastic production," Kastner told Reuters in a statement. Countries will also be debating whether the treaty should set transparency standards for chemical use in plastics production.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, David Azoulay, Matthew Kastner, Kastner, Bjorn Beeler, Beeler, Christina Dixon, Valerie Volcovici, Katy Daigle, Aurora Ellis Organizations: United Nations, UN, REUTERS, Center for International Environmental, European Union, U.S . State Department, Reuters, The International Council of Chemical Associations, Network, Saudi, Environmental Investigation Agency, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Nairobi, Kenya, Japan, Canada, Saudi Arabia, United States

☆ In UN Talks for a Global Plastic Treaty, Delegates to Face off Over Production Limits
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Persons: Valerie Volcovici, David Azoulay, Matthew Kastner, Kastner, Bjorn Beeler, Beeler, Christina Dixon, Katy Daigle, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Center for International Environmental, UN, European Union, U.S . State Department, Reuters, The International Council of Chemical Associations, Network, Saudi, Environmental Investigation Agency Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Japan, Canada, Saudi Arabia, United States, U.S

☆ Chinese firms backed by global banks found using leopards and pangolins parts, says environmental group
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —Three top Chinese pharmaceutical companies, which are backed by top global banks, are using endangered animal parts in their medicines, according to an investigation by an environmental protection group. Among them are three publicly listed traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) giants: Beijing Tong Ren Tang, Tianjin Pharmaceutical and Jilin Aodong Medicine. The EIA said it had found at least nine “products stated to contain leopard and/ or pangolin” that were manufactured by the firms. CNN has reached out to Tong Ren Tang, Tianjin Pharmaceutical and Jilin Aodong for comment. Tong Ren Tang, founded in 1669, is one of China’s most storied brands.

Persons: Beijing Tong Ren Tang, Avinash, Tong Ren Tang, ”, “ It’s, ” Basker, pangolins, Sakchai Lalit Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Environmental Investigation Agency, Tianjin Pharmaceutical, Jilin Aodong Medicine, EIA, CNN, TCM, Fortune, BlackRock, Citigroup, HSBC, Citi, IUCN SSC Pangolin Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Tianjin, Jilin, Bangkok

☆ Three Listed Chinese Firms Used Endangered Animal Parts as Ingredients Report
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

In a report published Monday, the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency urged global investors in the three firms - Beijing Tong Ren Tang group, Tianjin Pharmaceutical group and Jilin Aodong Pharmaceutical Group - to divest their stakes. The group said it focused on the pharmaceutical companies because they are publicly listed, and display products that include leopard or pangolin parts on their websites. Beijing Tong Ren Tang and Tianjin Pharmaceutical group did not respond to several emails and calls from Reuters asking for comment. Jilin Aodong Pharmaceutical Group could not be reached for comment. The environmental group said Deutsche Bank, HSBC Holdings, Citigroup and BlackRock did not respond to its queries.

Persons: Andrew Silver, Selena Li SHANGHAI, Beijing Tong Ren Tang, Avinash Basker, Wells, China's, Selena Li, Miyoung Kim, Miral Organizations: Reuters, UBS, HSBC, Environmental Investigation Agency, Tianjin Pharmaceutical, Jilin Aodong Pharmaceutical, TCM, Deutsche Bank, HSBC Holdings, Citigroup, Co, HSBC Global Asset Management Canada, Royal Bank of Canada, BlackRock, Citigroup ， Deutsche Bank, Medical Products Administration, Protection Locations: HONG KONG, London, Beijing, Tianjin, Jilin, BlackRock, Shanghai, Hong Kong

In a report published Monday, the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency urged global investors in the three firms - Beijing Tong Ren Tang group (600085.SS), Tianjin Pharmaceutical group (600329.SS) and Jilin Aodong Pharmaceutical Group (000623.SZ) - to divest their stakes. The group said it focused on the pharmaceutical companies because they are publicly listed, and display products that include leopard or pangolin parts on their websites. Beijing Tong Ren Tang and Tianjin Pharmaceutical group did not respond to several emails and calls from Reuters asking for comment. Jilin Aodong Pharmaceutical Group could not be reached for comment. The environmental group said Deutsche Bank, HSBC Holdings, Citigroup and BlackRock did not respond to its queries.

Persons: pangolin, Seun, Beijing Tong Ren Tang, Avinash Basker, Wells, China's, Andrew Silver, Selena Li, Miyoung Kim Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, UBS, HSBC, Environmental Investigation Agency, Tianjin Pharmaceutical, Jilin Aodong Pharmaceutical, TCM, Deutsche Bank, HSBC Holdings, Citigroup, BlackRock, & Co, HSBC Global Asset Management Canada, Royal Bank of Canada, Citigroup ， Deutsche Bank, Reuters, Medical Products Administration, Protection, Thomson Locations: Lagos, Nigeria, Rights SHANGHAI, HONG KONG, London, Beijing, Tianjin, Jilin, Shanghai, Hong Kong

☆ Canada removes 41 diplomats from India as dispute over Sikh activist’s assassination deepens
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Paula Newton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Ottawa CNN —Canada has withdrawn 41 diplomats and their families from India after New Delhi threatened to revoke their diplomatic immunity amid a deepening dispute over the assassination of a Sikh activist. Given the implications of India’s actions on the safety of our diplomats, we have facilitated their safe departure from India,” Joly told a press conference in Ottawa. Joly said those diplomats and their families had already left India while 21 Canadian diplomats remained in the country. Joly added the Canadian government would not retaliate in kind, saying that to do so would be a violation of international law. Nijjar was an outspoken supporter of the creation of a separate Sikh homeland that would include parts of India and be known as Khalistan.

Persons: Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Justin Trudeau, Mélanie Joly, India’s, ” Joly, Joly, “, Hardeep Singh, Nijjar, ” Nijjar’s Organizations: Ottawa CNN —, Canadian Foreign Affairs, Sikh Organization of Canada, India’s, Indian National Investigation Agency, Khalistan Locations: Ottawa CNN — Canada, India, New Delhi, British Columbia, Canada, Ottawa

☆ Why Pakistan's rupee has soared the most against the US dollar among global currencies
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Pakistani rupee has become the top performer in global currency markets. The currency's strength could bring some relief to Pakistan's inflation, which hit 31.4% year-on-year in September. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Pakistani rupee has surged to the top of global currency markets, sharply increasing from a record low in early September. The rebound has made the rupee September's top global performer, based on LSEG data cited by CNBC. "Pakistan's rupee was the top performer globally this month as a government crackdown on the illegal dollar trade helped reverse its fortunes," it said.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, CNBC, HDFC Securities, South Korean, Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency, World Bank Locations: Islamabad

☆ This currency is now the world’s top performer, after rebounding from record lows
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A roadside money changer handling Pakistani rupee coins in Karachi, Pakistan. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesThe Pakistani rupee has rebounded from an all-time low to become the world's top performing currency — and there's still room to strengthen, analysts say. The currency plummeted to a record low of 307 rupees against the greenback in early September, according to data from LSEG. This was largely owed to a government clampdown on a widespread illicit dollar trade. The lofty figure was largely owed to the weakness of Pakistan's currency, reduced domestic fuel and electricity subsidies, and supply chain disruptions, the report said.

Persons: there's, Tahir Abbas Arif Habib, Tahir Abbas, Arif Habib, Abbas, Steve Hanke Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, PKR, South Korean, Federal Investigation Agency, Pakistan, CNBC, Johns Hopkins University, Bank, World Bank, Johns Hopkins Locations: Karachi, Pakistan, LSEG

New Delhi/Hong Kong CNN —An executive at Vivo, one of China’s top smartphone makers, has been arrested in India in connection with a money laundering probe, raising fears of a renewed crackdown on Chinese businesses in the country. Guangwen Kuang, the head of administration at Vivo India, was taken into custody on Tuesday by India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED), his lawyer, Mudit Jain, told CNN. The ED is the country’s main financial crimes investigation agency, responsible for probing money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws. Despite the regulatory crackdown, Vivo is still India’s second biggest smartphone brand, commanding 17% of the market in the second quarter, according to Counterpoint Research. Authorities in India later banned Chinese apps and subjected deals with Chinese firms to greater scrutiny.

Persons: Guangwen Kuang, Mudit Jain, Kuang, “, Xiaomi, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Vivo, Vivo India, India’s, CNN, Jain, Samsung, Research, Global Times Locations: New Delhi, Hong Kong, India, Vivo, China, China’s, Vedika

CNN —An Indian minister has accused Canada of giving “operating space” to terrorists and extremists, as he rejected claims by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the Indian government may have played a role in the assassination of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil. “The Canadian (prime minister) made some allegations initially privately, and then publicly. He said the Indian government had long accused Canada of inaction in dealing with Sikh separatist extremism aimed at creating a separate Sikh homeland. He said India believes Canada has a “very permissive Canadian attitude towards terrorists, extremist people who openly advocate violence.”Those individuals “have been given operating space in Canada because of the compulsions of Canadian politics,” Jaishankar added. And that has actually compelled me to temporarily suspend even visa operations in Canada,” the minister added.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, ”, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, “, Trudeau, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Trudeau’s, Jaishankar, ” Jaishankar, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Nijjar, Gina Raimondo, Katherine Tai, Alicia Barcena, Raquel Buenrostro, Jake Sullivan, I’m Organizations: CNN, Hudson Institute, India’s, Indian National Investigation Agency, State Department, US, US National, Canadian Locations: Washington, India, India’s Punjab, Canada, Britain , New Zealand, Australia, Mexican

CNN —Intelligence gained by the “Five Eyes” network led to Canada’s public accusation that the Indian government may have played a role in the assassination of a Sikh separatist activist on Canadian soil, the US Ambassador to Canada said Sunday. Five Eyes is an intelligence sharing pact between the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, though the ambassador would not confirm if that shared intelligence came from the US. The spat then escalated further last week when India suspended visa services for Canadian citizens over what it said were “security threats” against diplomats in Canada. On Sunday, Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair sought to shift the focus from questions over its intelligence to the criminal investigation of Nijjar’s killing. His death both shocked and outraged the Sikh community in Canada, one of the largest outside India and home to more than 770,000 members of the religious minority.

Persons: I’m “, David Cohen, Vassy, “ I’m, ” Cohen, Justin Trudeau, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, ”, Arindam Bagchi, Cohen, Bill Blair, Blair, “, we’d, Trudeau, Bagchi, ’, ” Bagchi, Nijjar Organizations: CNN — Intelligence, Canadian, CTV, Canadian Defense, CBC, Canada, United Nations, that’s, India’s, Indian National Investigation Agency, Khalistan Locations: Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, India, New Delhi, Surrey, British Columbia, United, India’s Punjab

☆ Costa Rica's homicide rate rises in deadliest year ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People cross the street, one day after Costa Ricans elected Carlos Alvarado Quesada, as the new president, in San Jose, Costa Rica April 2, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSAN JOSE, Sept 22 (Reuters) - More than 656 people have been killed so far in Costa Rica's deadliest year on record, official homicide data showed on Friday, though the government expects this figure to soar past 900 by the end of this year. Costa Rica's homicides hit a record 654 last year according to the historically peaceful Central American country's Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ). The national rate for violent deaths is set to rise to 16 per 100,000 people this year, from 12.6 in 2022. Costa Rica's security minister Mario Zamora told Reuters in a statement that there are no "magic" and short-term responses to tackle crime in the country, and that it would need a series of security and prevention initiative.

Persons: Carlos Alvarado Quesada, Juan Carlos Ulate, Costa, Randall Zuniga, Mario Zamora, Zamora, Laura Chinchilla's, Rodrigo Chaves, Chaves, Alvaro Murillo, Carolina Pulice, Sarah Morland Organizations: Costa Ricans, REUTERS, JOSE, Judicial Investigation Agency, Central, Authorities, Reuters, Central American, Thomson Locations: San Jose, Costa Rica, Costa Rica's, Jose, Caribbean, Limon, Colombia, United States, Europe

☆ India anti-terror agency seizes properties of alleged Khalistan militant
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Pro-independence Khalistan flags are seen at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple, site of the June 2023 killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Chris Helgren/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Sept 23 (Reuters) - India's federal anti-terror agency on Saturday said it confiscated the properties of an alleged Khalistani militant whom it accuses of terror activities in India, as tensions with Canada grow over Sikh separatists. The anti-terror agency had registered a case against the alleged militant in 2019 for spreading fear and terror in Punjab and other parts of the country. NIA issued non-bailable warrants of arrest against Pannu in February 2021 and he was declared a ‘Proclaimed Offender (PO)' in November last year. Reporting by Sarita Chaganti Singh; editing by Clelia OzielOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Nanak, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Chris Helgren, Gurpatwant Singh, Justin Trudeau, Sarita Chaganti Singh, Clelia Organizations: REUTERS, National Investigation Agency, Canadian, NIA, Pannu, Thomson Locations: Khalistan, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, DELHI, federal, India, India's, Punjab

India has vehemently denied the claims, calling them “absurd and motivated.” Bagchi said Canada has provided “no specific information” to support the allegations. Over the years, violent clashes have erupted between followers of the movement and the Indian government, claiming many lives. In counterinsurgency operations, Indian security forces arbitrarily detained, tortured, executed, and “disappeared” tens of thousands of Sikhs, the rights group said. The Khalistan movement nowThere is no insurgency in Punjab today and analysts say supporters of the Khalistan movement remain very much on the margins in India. Nijjar’s death shocked and outraged many within the Sikh community in Canada, which has more than 770,000 members and is one of the largest outside India.

Persons: Arindam Bagchi, India’s, Bagchi, Justin Trudeau, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, ” Bagchi, Nijjar, “, Indira Gandhi, Gandhi Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, ”, that’s, Canadian, India’s Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, India’s, Indian National Investigation Agency, Khalistan, Human Rights Watch, Air Locations: New Delhi, India, Canada, Delhi, Surrey, British Columbia, India’s Punjab, Punjab, Pakistan, Air India, Toronto, Britain, Australia

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