Nijjar killing charges, US alcohol ban & more
Indian community members face a lower risk of extortion after a major gang indictment, while U.S. lawmakers are threatening to ban Canadian alcohol imports. Additionally, several local radio stations are closing across the country, and the government is planning a multi-billion dollar purchase of new submarines.
Members of the Indian community in Canada may see a decrease in targeted threats following a U.S. indictment (a formal legal charge) and several arrests against 37 suspects. Lawrence Bishnoi, a known gangster, has been charged with ordering the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. Authorities say the gang used such killings to terrorize and extort money from the Indian diaspora, referring to people living outside their ancestral homeland.
The cost and selection of American alcohol in Canada could change as U.S. Republican lawmakers propose retaliatory bans. The bill targets provinces that have restricted U.S. alcohol imports following trade disputes involving Donald Trump. Eight provincial governments currently have such restrictions in place.
Listeners in Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, and Kitchener will lose access to several local news and sports radio stations as Rogers cuts 230 jobs. The closures include News 1130 and Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver, as well as 660 NewsRadio and Sportsnet 960 in Calgary.
Taxpayers will fund a massive long-term defense project as Canada negotiates to buy up to 12 new submarines from a German shipbuilder. The deal with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems is expected to cost tens of billions of dollars. The government chose the German bid to replace the military's aging fleet.
For more on these stories, including a proposed cross-Canada oil pipeline and a tragic ambulance crash in P.E.I., visit the app's News section. You can also find footage of a driver appearing to sleep behind the wheel of a self-driving Tesla.