CSIS alleges that Indian agents and proxies engaged in fundraising and organizing within the South Asian community to support Pierre Poilievre’s successful 2022 Conservative leadership campaign. However, CSIS found no evidence suggesting Poilievre or his team were aware of these actions, and this information was not shared with him due to his lack of security clearance. Justice Hogue’s inquiry into foreign interference confirmed India’s attempts to influence Canadian politics, but concluded these efforts were largely unsuccessful and that involved candidates were likely unaware. Despite this, the issue remains a significant concern, prompting ongoing monitoring by the SITE Task Force.
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In India, two suspects were arrested for the gang-rape of an Israeli tourist and a local woman near the Hampi historical site. The attack, which also resulted in the death of one of the male victims, occurred after the group refused to give money to their assailants. Police are still searching for a third suspect. This incident underscores the ongoing problem of violence against women in India, prompting renewed calls for stricter measures to prevent such crimes.
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An 18-year-old Dalit woman in Kerala, India, reported years of sexual abuse, leading to the arrest of 58 men and boys. The abuse allegedly began when she was 13, with a neighbor filming the assault and using the footage to blackmail her into further abuse by dozens of others. The case highlights the vulnerability of Dalit women in India, where societal stigma and caste-based discrimination often hinder reporting and justice. Despite the severity of the crime, the case has received less national outrage than other high-profile rapes, emphasizing the pervasive issue of impunity for perpetrators targeting marginalized communities.
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During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent U.S. visit, a meeting between Modi and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk occurred, the purpose of which remains somewhat unclear. While Modi stated they discussed space, technology, and innovation, Trump speculated the meeting was likely business-related, given Musk’s role as head of the newly formed U.S. Department of Government Efficiency. The meeting comes amidst Musk’s pursuit of expanding Starlink’s services into India, a goal currently facing regulatory and competitive hurdles. Further complicating matters are Tesla’s ongoing challenges in entering the Indian automotive market.
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President Biden commuted the sentence of Leonard Peltier, an 80-year-old American Indian Movement activist serving a life sentence for the 1975 murder of two FBI agents. Though maintaining his innocence, Peltier will now serve his sentence under home confinement. His commutation follows decades of advocacy highlighting concerns about the evidence used in his conviction, including a statement from a former prosecutor expressing doubts about the case. This decision concludes nearly five decades of imprisonment for Peltier.
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John Q. Hosedrinker