SHER E PUNJAB

July 10, 2026

Farmers protest land pooling policy, Indo-US trade talks

Thousands of farmers staged a massive demonstration at the Sector 34 Dussehra Ground in Chandigarh, escalating their agitation against federal trade talks and state land acquisition plans.The demonstration, jointly organized by two major agrarian unions—the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) and BKU (Ekta-Dakaunda)—drew men and women from across Punjab to voice stark opposition to a proposed India-U.S. trade agreement and Punjab's revised land pooling policy.Protesters slammed the federal government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Punjab state administration under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Union leaders accused the central government of bowing to American pressure, warning that importing heavily subsidized U.S. agricultural products would devastate local small-scale farmers and businesses. Demonstrators also criticized rising domestic inflation, linking it to global tensions including U.S. actions regarding Iran."This India-U.S. trade deal will ruin our working class," said Joginder Singh Ugrahan, state president of BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan), alongside BKU (Ekta-Dakaunda) chief Manjit Singh Dhaner. "We cannot compete with heavily subsidized U.S. markets."

Former Afghan General and First Deputy House Speaker Extradited to U.S.

World

July 10, 2026

Former Afghan General and First Deputy House Speaker Extradited to U.S.

A complaint was unsealed Friday charging Abdul Zahir Qadeer, also known as “Haji Abdul Zahir,” a former general in Afghanistan’s Border Force and First Deputy Speaker of Afghanistan’s National Assembly’s House of the People, with conspiring to import heroin and methamphetamine and related firearms offenses. Qadeer is expected to appear in federal court in Manhattan today following his arrest in Nairobi, Kenya, on April 15, 2025, and extradition to the United States on July 10, .“While purporting to be a political leader of Afghanistan, Abdul Zahir Qadeer was allegedly leading a criminal enterprise dealing in dangerous and addictive narcotics and heavy weapons,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Drug Enforcement Administration led an investigation that ended Qadeer’s audacious criminal activity, and now he will face justice in the United States.”“Abdul Zahir Qadeer, a former high-ranking Afghan government official, allegedly also held a dual role as a large-scale international narcotics and military-grade weapons trafficker,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York. “In an attempt to traffic massive amounts of poison and weaponry — including heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers — Qadeer allegedly sold a two-kilogram test shipment to a buyer, which was delivered in South Africa. Unbeknownst to Qadeer, that buyer was working with the DEA. The scale of potential devastation Qadeer was attempting to bring to the U.S. is terrifying. This brazen effort underscores the need for the commitment and expertise of our career prosecutors and DEA partners.”“"The world is safer now that Abdul Zahir Qadeer is facing justice in the United States. As a former General for Afghanistan's Border Force, Qadeer was entrusted to protect his country's borders — instead, he exploited his position to facilitate drug and weapons trafficking that fueled violence and instability,” said Administrator Terrance C. Cole of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “Make no mistake; we will use the full weight of the United States government to bring such individuals to justice. No matter where you are, no matter how powerful you think you are — you are not out of our reach.”According to the allegations contained in the complaint and other public filings: Qadeer is a former member of Afghanistan’s National Assembly, which functioned as the legislature of Afghanistan until the Taliban regained control of the country in or about August 2021, and he was elected First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly’s House of the People in or about 2012. Qadeer previously served as a general in Afghanistan’s Border Force, a paramilitary police organization responsible for securing Afghanistan’s border, commanding its Eighth Border Battalion in Takhar Province, Afghanistan.Qadeer was also, until his arrest, a large-scale international narcotics and weapons trafficker. As alleged in the complaint, Qadeer engaged in extensive negotiations with an individual who purported to be a member of an international drug trafficking organization (the “DTO”) but, unbeknownst to Qadeer, was in fact a confidential source (CS-1) working at the direction of the DEA.In or about November 2024, CS-1 began communicating with Qadeer about their potential partnership in trafficking hundreds of kilograms of heroin and methamphetamine for importation into and sale in the United States for the purported DTO. As an early step in their partnership, on or about Dec. 10, 2024, Qadeer sold a two-kilogram test shipment of methamphetamine delivered to CS-1’s associate in Johannesburg, South Africa, in exchange for approximately $14,000.

Parasite-Linked Illness Sickens Hundreds Across US, Michigan Reports Biggest Surge

World

July 10, 2026

Parasite-Linked Illness Sickens Hundreds Across US, Michigan Reports Biggest Surge

There is an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, which is an intestinal infection resulting from a parasitic disease. It leads to frequent, loose, and explosive diarrhea. The number of people suffering from this disease in America includes more than 31 states. The number of probable cases is more than 1,500 while the number of confirmed cases is 843 in a period ranging from May 1 to July 9. As of now, no one has died due to this infection. 86 people have been admitted to hospital due to the infection. The highest numbers of cases can be seen in Michigan where more than 1,000 cases have been reported in just two weeks. The other states that are suffering from this disease include New York (with almost 300 cases), Ohio (with 177 cases) and Illinois (with 141 cases). This infection spreads through contaminated food or water containing fecal material. The cause of the infection is not known yet but it has been linked to contaminated fruits and vegetables before.

Special mediators appointed in HEABC-BCNU dispute

Canada

July 10, 2026

Special mediators appointed in HEABC-BCNU dispute

Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Labour, has appointed Vince Ready and Amanda Rogers as special mediators in the ongoing labour dispute between the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) and the B.C. Nurses’ Union (BCNU).The appointments establish a process for the parties to work together to reach a settlement.Government remains committed to upholding the principles of B.C.’s labour laws, which recognize that collective agreements are best reached at the bargaining table.Nurses are central to B.C.’s health-care system, and reaching a fair resolution is important to patients and health-care workers throughout the province. The appointments were made by the minister of labour under Section 76 of the Labour Relations Code. The special mediators will work with the parties for a period of 10 days. If the outstanding issues are not resolved, the special mediators will provide recommendations to the minister and the parties to resolve the dispute.

Expanding Mandatory Care Can’t Wait Until 2028 While Lives Are at Risk

Canada

July 10, 2026

Expanding Mandatory Care Can’t Wait Until 2028 While Lives Are at Risk

The NDP spent years denying the need for life-saving mandatory care. Now, they are scrambling to catch up. The mental health and addiction crisis continues to devastate lives across British Columbia, yet families are being told they must wait until 2027 and 2028 before these new facilities even begin opening. Claire Rattée, MLA for Skeena and Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Addictions and Housing Supports, issued the following statement following today's announcement of new mandatory care facilities in Prince George and Surrey: “Families, front-line workers, police, healthcare professionals and advocates have been calling for investments in mandatory care for years.” "Unfortunately, while it’s a step in the right direction, today's announcement is also a reminder of how long British Columbians have been waiting for these life-saving measures. The NDP spent years dismissing calls for mandatory care before reversing course only after it became impossible to ignore the consequences of failed policies like decriminalization and prescribed alternatives without adequate treatment.” "Even now, implementation is moving far too slowly. Those struggling with mental illness and addiction need mandatory care now." The new 72-bed facility in Prince George is expected to begin opening in late 2027, with full completion by the end of 2028. The newly announced 60-bed Surrey facility is also not expected to open until spring 2028. "People experiencing severe mental illness and addiction cannot wait another two years. Every month of delay means more families watching loved ones deteriorate, more preventable deaths, more victimization, and more people cycling between emergency departments, shelters, correctional facilities and the streets." Rattée also pointed to the limited progress made since the government's first mandatory care announcement at the Surrey Pretrial Centre in June 2025. "More than a year after the Surrey Pretrial program was announced, only around 60 people have gone through treatment. Every person who receives care matters, but that number also illustrates just how slowly this system is being built despite the scale of the crisis facing British Columbia." She also questioned why no new mandatory care facility has been announced for Vancouver, despite the city being a nexus for the overlapping mental health and addiction crisis. "It's difficult to understand why Vancouver, the epicentre of this crisis and home to the Downtown Eastside, still has no dedicated mandatory care facility. If we're serious about helping people with the most severe and complex illnesses, Vancouver shouldn’t be left out." Rattée also renewed her call for the long-promised second Red Fish Healing Centre. "The government promised British Columbians a second Red Fish Healing Centre years ago. That facility remains unbuilt while patients with the most complex psychiatric and addiction needs continue to wait. These are individuals who require specialized, long-term treatment, and every year of delay has real consequences for patients, families and communities." Rattée said the government must go further and build a comprehensive system of care to address mental health and addiction. "Mandatory care is one part of the solution, but it must be backed by significantly more voluntary treatment, psychiatric beds, detox, supportive housing and long-term community supports. The government has finally acknowledged what many of us have been saying for years. Now it needs to move with the urgency this crisis demands."

Beaverlodge RCMP – Amber Alert issued for 6-year-old Lanakai Morrison-update

Canada

July 10, 2026

Beaverlodge RCMP – Amber Alert issued for 6-year-old Lanakai Morrison-update

On July 8, an amber alert was issued for 6-year-old Lanakai Morrison. Lanakai was taken by his mother, 35-year-old, Krista Morrison from Valhalla Centre, near Beaverlodge, Alta. Beaverlodge RCMP have confirmed there was a sighting of Lanakai on the morning of July 8, in Ft. St. John B.C. Beaverlodge RCMP are working with our RCMP partners and police forces in British Columbia to safely locate Lanakai. There have been a number of sightings in British Columbia and police are actively investigation any leads. Efforts to locate Lanakai remain ongoing. Lanakai is still believed to be with his biological mother, Krista Morrison, her partner Daniel Ludwig and another child, 4-year-old Karl Morrison. If the public has any information on Lanakai’s whereabouts, please call 911, Call Beaverlodge RCMP at 780-354-2955, or your local police immediately.

Burnaby RCMP investigating indecent acts in local park

Canada

July 10, 2026

Burnaby RCMP investigating indecent acts in local park

The Burnaby RCMP is investigating three separate reports of indecent acts in a local park over the past week and will be conducting enhanced patrols in the area. All of the incidents involved a male suspect engaged in an indecent act in different areas of Central Park on July 5, 6, and 9th. The reported acts took place at different times of day, and ranged from the suspect exposing himself, to masturbating in public. Investigators are conducting interviews and piecing together details reported by the victims in an effort to identify a suspect or suspects and determine if any of the incidents may be connected. Police are also actively working to collect further evidence, including security camera video. “These types of incidents are extremely concerning for police and the public. We want to ensure that people are informed, so they remain vigilant and take appropriate precautions, including staying aware of their surroundings,” said Burnaby RCMP Media Relations Officer Michael Kalanj. “We also want to strongly encourage people to contact police immediately to report any similar incidents or suspicious behaviour.”

Worker and house burned in fire on Cherry Avenue

Canada

July 10, 2026

Worker and house burned in fire on Cherry Avenue

Around 6 pm on July 9, first responders in Mission attended a residence on Cherry Avenue, west of Stave Lake Street, where the house was on fire and a construction worker had been injured. Mission RCMP spoke with one of the witnesses on scene, and learned that three workers had been renovating a deck at the residence, when a large container of vinyl adhesive caught fire. The burning material reportedly also came into contact with one of the workers, causing him to fall from the deck to the concrete below. The 31-year-old from Chilliwack was transported to hospital with serious burns and other injuries from the fall. The residents of the home were not injured. WorkSafeBC attended the scene, and are now investigating the matter.

Police investigating rash of catalytic converter thefts

Canada

July 10, 2026

Police investigating rash of catalytic converter thefts

The Vancouver Police Department is advising eastside and southeast-side residents in the city to be aware of a rash of catalytic converter thefts this June and July. A total of 41 thefts have been reported in an area bordered by Ontario Street and Fraser Street to the west, Marine Drive to the south, Boundary Road to the east, and 1st Avenue to the north. Twenty-three thefts were reported in June and 18 have been reported so far this month. “We’re typically seeing these incidents happening between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. under cover of darkness,” says Sgt. Adam Donaldson. “Thieves use angle grinders or portable saws and can be finished in a minute or so.” “Catalytic converters contain precious metals like platinum, palladium, and rhodium. Rhodium alone is worth more than $9,000 per gram in Canada. Once removed, the converters are generally sold to scrap metal dealers. The result for the victims of these thefts is a costly insurance deductible, as well as the frustrating inconvenience of having to get their vehicles repaired.” The most common vehicles targeted are SUVs and other vehicles with high ground clearance, including: Toyota HighlanderToyota 4Runner Lexus RX (RX330 RX350)Hyundai TucsonHyundai Santa FePolice recommend drivers park in well-lit areas, and: Safeguard rear access to the vehicle by parking against a wall, or obstruction, making it difficult to access the catalytic converterPark indoors where possibleConsider purchasing catalytic converter cover or shieldConsider vehicle alarm with motion or vibration sensorConsider motion sensitive cameras in area where vehicle is parked

China Successfully Reuses Long March-10B Rocket Booster in Major Space Milestone

World

July 10, 2026

China Successfully Reuses Long March-10B Rocket Booster in Major Space Milestone

There is one significant breakthrough made by the Chinese space program this week. According to the official news agency Xinhua, the first stage of the Long March-10B rocket has become reusable for the first time. It became possible due to the fact that this stage of the rocket detached from the second stage upon the launch from the island of Hainan and safely landed back at the sea platform. This reusable design is able to transport the cargo weighing up to 16,000 kilograms to the low orbit. China now becomes an equal to US firms SpaceX and Blue Origin, which have been reusing their rocket boosters since 2015 to significantly reduce the cost of launches. Although SpaceX has been ahead in this field with more than 600 booster recoveries, other countries have also decided to take part in it.