Category: World

Two men have been sentenced for the killing of Ripudaman Singh Malik. José Lopez, 26, was given a life sentence without the possibility of parole for 20 years by the British Columbia Supreme Court. His lawyer said he felt sorry for what happened.

The judge, Terence Schultes, agreed that the sentence was fair, noting it was an appropriate outcome for the crime. Lopez and another man, Tanner Fox, 24, both faced second-degree murder charges. Fox was sentenced similarly earlier this year.

Despite requests from Malik’s family, both men have not revealed who paid them to commit the crime. Prosecutors said that Lopez and Fox shot Malik multiple times in a planned killing and that they were paid for it.

Malik was a well-known figure because he was accused in the Kanishka bombing in 1985, which killed 329 people, the worst act of terrorism in Canada. He was acquitted due to a lack of evidence.

In 2022, Malik publicly distanced himself from the Khalistan movement and even praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He had a known dispute with Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another pro-Khalistani figure who was killed just a few weeks before Malik.

Malik was killed on July 14, 2022, while sitting in his car at his business in Surrey. Police are still investigating to find out who hired Lopez and Fox. Both were arrested just days after the murder, with police confirming Malik was a targeted victim.

Some groups, like Sikhs for Justice, believe that the Indian government was involved in Malik’s killing, similar to what happened in Nijjar’s case. This claim has also been echoed by Canadian leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

New Delhi: In the search for peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russian Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, said that Russia is ready to discuss solutions together with the U.S. and Ukraine. Speaking at the India Today Conclave, Alipov noted that the current U.S. government is making positive moves compared to past administrations by wanting to end the conflict.

Alipov mentioned a recent meeting in Saudi Arabia, where U.S. officials showed a willingness to listen to Russia’s concerns. He expressed that while some leaders in Ukraine and Europe continue to demand Russia withdraw from Ukraine, they are also planning to strengthen Europe’s military presence.

“The situation is tricky,” he stated, adding, “Although we believe we are winning the war, we still want peace.” He feels that Ukraine and Europe are preventing a quick resolution.

Regarding Donald Trump’s recent announcement about wanting to end the conflict, Alipov said they would be open to meetings involving Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He claimed that while the U.S. sees Ukrainian President Zelenskyy as a rightful leader, Russia does not feel the same way. However, they are still open to discussions.

When questioned about India’s role, Alipov said, “We don’t expect anything from India.” He emphasized the strong friendship between India and Russia and said they’re hopeful for future cooperation. He also mentioned that Russia supports better relations between India and China and wants to help both nations achieve that.

Alipov summed it up by saying, “We look at situations in terms of cooperation, not conflict. We hope everyone can work together fairly.”

US President Donald Trump has announced that he sent a letter to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to discuss a possible nuclear deal. In an interview with Fox Business News, Trump said, “I hope you’re going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily, it’s going to be a terrible thing.”

The White House confirmed that Trump has invited Iranian officials to talks about their nuclear program. The detailed interview will be shown on Sunday. Trump expressed his desire to negotiate a deal instead of going to war, mentioning, “I would rather negotiate a deal… We can make a deal that would be just as good as if you won militarily.”

He added that the time to act is now, saying, “Something’s going to happen one way or the other.” Trump emphasized that negotiating would be better for Iran and suggested they should consider his letter. He reminded everyone that Iran shouldn’t have nuclear weapons.

Iran claims its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes, but as tensions with the US grow, Iranian officials are hinting at developing nuclear weapons. Iran’s state-run news agency reported Trump’s comments, but there has been no response from Khamenei’s office.

The Trump administration has stressed preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons, especially after a new report suggested Iran is producing more uranium suitable for weapons.

Detective Melissa Mercado, who has been with the NYPD for seven years, made headlines after appearing in a suggestive music video for the rapper S-Quire called “Doin That.” The video, published in February by World Hip Hop, features Mercado dancing, twerking, and showing off her body in a thong and a bra. Although her name is not mentioned in the video, police sources confirmed it is indeed her.

The video has stirred up talk among officials. A police union source said, “What she does in her personal life is separate from her job as a detective. She doesn’t show any NYPD logos or mention her detective work in the video. If she is paid for this, she would need to inform the department about her outside job.”

Mercado’s choice of outfits has caused some controversy online. While some of her fellow detectives believe she deserves respect because she has done good work, others are criticizing her for her choices. Retired NYPD Chief Michael Osgood commented that while some people think what officers do off duty is their own business, he feels her conduct is inappropriate. He said it doesn’t align with the values expected from a police officer, especially one investigating sensitive cases like special victims.

Eric Sanders, a retired NYPD officer, added that the department should review Mercado’s actions to ensure public trust remains strong. Mercado has a yearly salary of $144,000 and works in the Bronx’s special victims unit. She joined the police force in 2018. The video was filmed in 2022 at Club Vanity in NYC, and S-Quire mentioned he didn’t realize she was a detective when they met. Now, it’s unclear if Mercado will face any consequences for her side job.

Pope Francis is feeling better after spending three weeks in the hospital with pneumonia. He had a calm night, and his doctors say his health is stable for the third day in a row. This means he is not having the breathing troubles that worried everyone before.

On Thursday, he released his first audio message since being admitted to Gemelli Hospital, which has a special room for popes, on February 14. In the message, the 88-year-old pontiff thanked everyone who has been praying for him. He said, “Thank you from my heart for your prayers. I am with you here.” He spoke in his native Spanish and sounded a bit breathless, but people were happy to hear his voice.

Pilgrims have been gathering in St. Peter’s Square every evening to pray for Pope Francis. Many clapped and cheered when they heard him speak. One 76-year-old pilgrim named John said, “It’s a good sign that he can talk.” While another visitor, Claudia, noted that it was tough to hear him so tired.

The Vatican has been giving updates on the Pope’s health every day. They announced that he is doing breathing exercises and physiotherapy and has not had a fever. Although he is stable, the doctors will still be cautious about predicting what will happen next. They plan to share the next update on Saturday.

Imagine if the government decided what you could watch on TV and how to dress your hair. In North Korea, this is a reality. Timothy Cho, a man who escaped North Korea, shared his story about life there. He explained that buying a TV in North Korea is strictly monitored. “If you buy a TV, the government comes to your house and removes all antennas, leaving just one,” he said.

TV in North Korea is All About the Kim Family

Cho described how North Koreans can only watch certain shows. “Everything is about the Kim family—programs, songs, and documentaries—24/7,” he said. There’s no choice in what to watch; all content serves as propaganda for the Kim family.

Strict Rules About Everyday Life

The rules in North Korea don’t just stop at TV. Even haircuts are controlled by the government. Children must pick from only a few approved haircuts, and if their hair is too long, it can cause trouble for their parents. “If someone has a different hairstyle, their parents might be called to the police station,” Cho explained.

Escaping from North Korea is Hard

North Korea has been ruled by the Kim family since 1948, with Kim Jong-un currently in charge. The country is very isolated, making it hard to learn about the daily lives of regular North Koreans. Most of the information comes from those who have escaped, like Cho.

Since the 1950s, about 31,000 North Koreans have fled to South Korea, often first passing through China. In 2009, the number of people escaping peaked at nearly 3,000 but has dropped since Kim Jong-un made crossing the border tougher after becoming leader in late 2011.

However, in 2023, South Korea saw nearly three times the number of North Koreans escaping compared to the last two years. Many were younger people or from higher-status families, including diplomats and students. The main reasons for escaping are changing; many now flee because they are unhappy with the government, while before, food shortages were the biggest reason. According to surveys, 23% of defectors said they left due to political unhappiness, and just over 21% cited food problems.

On Thursday, March 6, a problem with SpaceX’s Starship led to space debris falling from the sky. This caused delays for flights at two big airports in Florida – Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stepped in to keep everyone safe. They made the decision to stop planes from taking off and landing at major airports, including Miami International Airport (MIA), Orlando International Airport (MCO), Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). This was done to prevent accidents from falling debris. This story is still developing, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Brazil’s Environment Minister, Marina Silva, warned that global efforts to fight climate change could take a hit if Donald Trump returns to the White House. She believes this could create a “triple negative effect” on climate action.

Trump has pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement, caused trade problems with Canada, China, and Mexico, and has changed U.S. policies on the war in Ukraine. Brazil is getting ready to host important climate talks later this year.

Silva explained that these political troubles can make it harder for countries to work together on climate issues. She said, “Less action means less money and less cooperation,” which is bad for our planet. Brazil plans to use its leadership during the upcoming COP30 summit to encourage teamwork and respect for science.

Silva shared concerns about the promise made last year to give poor countries $300 billion each year by 2035, saying we can’t just assume it will happen. She also mentioned that trade fights are bad for everyone and could lead to higher prices and economic problems in the future. “People won’t support leaders if their homes are destroyed by fires or if they can’t afford food,” she said.