Showing the middle finger to someone is part of a person’s constitutional rights in Canada. A judge has ruled that flipping off someone is covered under freedom of expression in Canada even if it may not be civil or polite. Judge Dennis Galiatsatos from the French-speaking province of Quebec issued his interpretation in a 26-page decision on February 24th. The judge observed in his ruling, “To be abundantly clear, it is not a crime to give someone the finger.”

The ruling came with respect to a case involving a person showing his neighbour the middle finger in Beaconsfield, Quebec. The accused, a 45-year-old teacher named Neall Epstein, was arrested by Police in May 2021 for allegedly flipping off and threatening his neighbour. Now, judge Galiatsatos has clarified that not only Epstein’s arrest amounted to injustice but he had also not committed any crime.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet accused of sexual assault

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/canadian-cardinal-marc-ouellet-accused-of-sexual-assault-507655/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

As per media reports, Neall Epstein had an old dispute with his 34-year-old neighbour Michael Naccache. Naccache reportedly made threatening gestures towards Epstein while holding a power tool in his hands. This made the 45-year-old teacher flip him off. Naccache also claimed that Epstein made a throat-slashing gesture towards him, indicating he would kill him. However, the judge refused to accept the claims and ruled in favour of the accused teacher.

As reported by AFP, the judge in his ruling said, “Flipping the proverbial bird is a God-given, charter-enshrined right that belongs to every red-blooded Canadian.” Galiatsatos further stated that the gesture “may not be civil, it may not be polite, it may not be gentlemanly... nevertheless, it does not trigger criminal liability.”

Also Read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadas-quebec-makes-mandatory-oath-to-british-monarch-optional-541843">Canada's Quebec makes mandatory oath to British monarch optional</a>

The judge then went on to give Naccache an earful for pursuing the case against the teacher. He told the 34-year-old man to feel lucky as he was not being charged for threats that he issued against the teacher. He also wished he could literally — not just figuratively — throw the case out of court.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Showing the middle finger to someone is part of a person’s constitutional rights in Canada. A judge has ruled that flipping off someone is covered under freedom of expression in Canada even if it may not be civil or polite.

Showing the middle finger to someone is part of a person’s constitutional rights in Canada. A judge has ruled that flipping off someone is covered under freedom of expression in Canada even if it may not be civil or polite. Judge Dennis Galiatsatos from the French-speaking province of Quebec issued his interpretation in a 26-page decision on February 24th. The judge observed in his ruling, “To be abundantly clear, it is not a crime to give someone the finger.” The ruling came with respect to a case involving a person showing his neighbour the middle finger in Beaconsfield, Quebec. The accused, a 45-year-old teacher named Neall Epstein, was arrested by Police in May 2021 for allegedly flipping off and threatening his neighbour. Now, judge Galiatsatos has clarified that not only Epstein’s arrest amounted to injustice but he had also not committed any crime. Watch: Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet accused of sexual assault × As per media reports, Neall Epstein had an old dispute with his 34-year-old neighbour Michael Naccache. Naccache reportedly made threatening gestures towards Epstein while holding a power tool in his hands. This made the 45-year-old teacher flip him off. Naccache also claimed that Epstein made a throat-slashing gesture towards him, indicating he would kill him. However, the judge refused to accept the claims and ruled in favour of the accused teacher. As reported by AFP, the judge in his ruling said, “Flipping the proverbial bird is a God-given, charter-enshrined right that belongs to every red-blooded Canadian.” Galiatsatos further stated that the gesture “may not be civil, it may not be polite, it may not be gentlemanly... nevertheless, it does not trigger criminal liability.” Also Read| Canada's Quebec makes mandatory oath to British monarch optional The judge then went on to give Naccache an earful for pursuing the case against the teacher. He told the 34-year-old man to feel lucky as he was not being charged for threats that he issued against the teacher. He also wished he could literally — not just figuratively — throw the case out of court. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Showing middle finger a constitutional right in Canada, judge declares in a 26-page decision

Canada Soccer say their pay proposals for their men's and women's national teams will ensure equality and make the women's team the second-best paid in the world. The governing body, which faced a strike threat from their women's team last month, said their plan was awaiting agreement from players unions. The plan features a pooling of prize money from the men's and women's World Cups with the income divided out equally between the two teams.

The statement from Canada Soccer was issued shortly before a hearing to parliament's Heritage Committee where women players will testify. "If accepted by the Player Associations, the collective bargaining agreements will pay both National Teams the same amount for playing a 90-minute match and both National Teams will share equally in competition prize money," the organisation said. "Additionally, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team will become the second-highest paid women’s national team among FIFA’s 211 Member Associations," they added.

Last week the body announced an interim funding agreement for the women's team to cover their run-up to the Women's World Cup which is being held in New Zealand and Australia in July. Canada won gold in the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021 and are among the contenders to challenge defending World Cup champions, the United States.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ex-nba-star-shawn-kemp-freed-from-jail-after-lawyers-claim-he-fired-in-self-defence-570440">Ex-NBA star Shawn Kemp freed from jail after lawyer claims he fired in ‘self-defence’</a>

Canada Soccer said they had agreed to all nine demands made by women's team players last month covering flights, hotels as well as transparency over finances. Former Olympic athlete Charmaine Crooks was named acting president of Canada Soccer after former president Nick Bontis quit after the row with the women's players.

Canada Soccer General Secretary Earl Cochrane said he hoped the players would sign up to the proposals. "The deal in front of our players today is unprecedented in Canadian sport and will make us a leader among FIFA Member Associations," he said. "We have appreciated the conversations with the two Players’ Associations and we believe serious progress has been made. With fresh leadership, now is the time to conclude those discussions and finalize a deal. Together, we can get this done.” added&nbsp;Cochrane.

Canada Soccer say their pay proposals for their men's and women's national teams will ensure equality and make the women's team the second-best paid in the world.

Canada Soccer say their pay proposals for their men's and women's national teams will ensure equality and make the women's team the second-best paid in the world. The governing body, which faced a strike threat from their women's team last month, said their plan was awaiting agreement from players unions. The plan features a pooling of prize money from the men's and women's World Cups with the income divided out equally between the two teams. The statement from Canada Soccer was issued shortly before a hearing to parliament's Heritage Committee where women players will testify. "If accepted by the Player Associations, the collective bargaining agreements will pay both National Teams the same amount for playing a 90-minute match and both National Teams will share equally in competition prize money," the organisation said. "Additionally, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team will become the second-highest paid women’s national team among FIFA’s 211 Member Associations," they added. Last week the body announced an interim funding agreement for the women's team to cover their run-up to the Women's World Cup which is being held in New Zealand and Australia in July. Canada won gold in the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021 and are among the contenders to challenge defending World Cup champions, the United States. Also read: Ex-NBA star Shawn Kemp freed from jail after lawyer claims he fired in ‘self-defence’ Canada Soccer said they had agreed to all nine demands made by women's team players last month covering flights, hotels as well as transparency over finances. Former Olympic athlete Charmaine Crooks was named acting president of Canada Soccer after former president Nick Bontis quit after the row with the women's players. Canada Soccer General Secretary Earl Cochrane said he hoped the players would sign up to the proposals. "The deal in front of our players today is unprecedented in Canadian sport and will make us a leader among FIFA Member Associations," he said. "We have appreciated the conversations with the two Players’ Associations and we believe serious progress has been made. With fresh leadership, now is the time to conclude those discussions and finalize a deal. Together, we can get this done.” added Cochrane.

Canada Soccer claim women's team will become second-highest paid after proposing equal pay deal

Toronto's school board has become the first in Canada to recognise that caste discrimination exists in the city's schools and has asked a provincial human rights body to help in creating a framework to address the issue.

The&nbsp;Toronto&nbsp;District School Board on Wednesday voted in favour of a motion to that effect, which was introduced by board trustee Yalini Rajakulasingam. Sixteen trustees voted in favour of the motion and five voted against it.

The move addresses an issue important to the area's South Asian diaspora, particularly the Indian and Hindu communities. It comes weeks after Seattle became the first US&nbsp;city to outlaw caste discrimination after a city council vote.

India's caste system is among the world's oldest forms of rigid social stratification.

"This motion is not about division, it is about creating healing and empowering communities and providing them safer schools that students deserve," Rajakulasingam said.

Rajakulasingam called for a partnership between the human rights commission of Ontario, Canada's most populous province, and&nbsp;Toronto's school board.

The caste system dates back thousands of years and allows many privileges to upper castes but represses lower castes. The Dalit community is on the lowest rung of the Hindu caste system and have been treated as "untouchables."

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago, yet bias persists, according to several studies in recent years, including one that found people from lower castes were under-represented in higher-paying jobs.

Debate over the caste system's hierarchy is contentious in India and abroad, with the issue intertwined with religion. Some people say discrimination is now rare. Indian government policies reserving seats for lower-caste students at top Indian universities have helped many land tech jobs in the West in recent years, besides a quota in government jobs.

Activists opposing caste discrimination say it is no different from other forms of discrimination like racism and hence should be outlawed. 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Toronto's school board has become the first in Canada to recognise that caste discrimination exists in the city's schools and has asked a provincial human rights body to help in creating a framework to address the issue.

Toronto's school board has become the first in Canada to recognise that caste discrimination exists in the city's schools and has asked a provincial human rights body to help in creating a framework to address the issue. The Toronto District School Board on Wednesday voted in favour of a motion to that effect, which was introduced by board trustee Yalini Rajakulasingam. Sixteen trustees voted in favour of the motion and five voted against it. The move addresses an issue important to the area's South Asian diaspora, particularly the Indian and Hindu communities. It comes weeks after Seattle became the first US city to outlaw caste discrimination after a city council vote. India's caste system is among the world's oldest forms of rigid social stratification. "This motion is not about division, it is about creating healing and empowering communities and providing them safer schools that students deserve," Rajakulasingam said. Rajakulasingam called for a partnership between the human rights commission of Ontario, Canada's most populous province, and Toronto's school board. The caste system dates back thousands of years and allows many privileges to upper castes but represses lower castes. The Dalit community is on the lowest rung of the Hindu caste system and have been treated as "untouchables." Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago, yet bias persists, according to several studies in recent years, including one that found people from lower castes were under-represented in higher-paying jobs. Debate over the caste system's hierarchy is contentious in India and abroad, with the issue intertwined with religion. Some people say discrimination is now rare. Indian government policies reserving seats for lower-caste students at top Indian universities have helped many land tech jobs in the West in recent years, besides a quota in government jobs. Activists opposing caste discrimination say it is no different from other forms of discrimination like racism and hence should be outlawed. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Toronto school board becomes first in Canada to recognise caste discrimination

Giving someone the middle finger is a "God-given" right that belongs to all Canadians, a Quebec judge said, as he recently acquitted a Montreal-area man of criminal harassment and uttering threats.

Giving the middle finger 'no crime'; Flipping someone off a 'god-given right': Canada judge's order

The Canadian police have started their investigation into claims of Chinese “police service stations” in Montreal, Quebec, that claimed to have been established to harass or intimidate Chinese origin people living in the country.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said that they had received inputs about two sites being operated as police stations.

China has denied these accusations,&nbsp;saying&nbsp;that they are just "service centres" for its nationals overseas.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday said that his government is "very concerned about" this issue.

"We're in the process of making sure the RCMP is following up on this and that our intelligence systems are taking this seriously," he said, according to BBC.

The move comes a year after a Spanish NGO Safeguard Defenders, which monitors disappearances in China, claimed in its report that there at least 100 such police stations operating across the globe in 53 countries, including the UK and the US.

They claimed that the stations are part of efforts by China's regime to "harass, threaten, intimidate and force targets to return to China for persecution".

In the aftermath of the report, several countries including the US and the Netherlands conducted similar probes.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/stormy-daniels-trump-case-former-president-might-soon-be-indicted-in-the-matter-570489">Stormy Daniels-Trump case: Former president might soon be indicted in the matter</a>

It comes amidst claims of Chinese interference in Canada's internal affairs, including accusations by the government that Beijing tried to influence the last two Canadian elections. China has denied those accusations.

In a statement, the RCMP in Quebec said, “We are carrying out police actions aimed at detecting and disrupting these foreign state-backed criminal activities, which may threaten the safety of persons living in Canada."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/showing-middle-finger-a-constitutional-right-in-canada-judge-declares-in-a-26-page-decision-570473">Showing middle finger a constitutional right in Canada, judge declares in a 26-page decision</a>

The police agency had launched a similar investigation in Toronto in November following reports of Chinese "police service stations". However, the RCMP in Ontario did provide any information related to that probe when it was asked on Thursday.

Last week, RCMP's deputy commissioner for federal policing Michael Duheme told a parliamentary committee that the agency has "taken overt actions" that led to the ceasing of operations at four alleged Chinese police stations.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The Canadian police have started their investigation into claims of Chinese “police service stations” in Montreal, Quebec, that claimed to have been established to harass or intimidate Chinese origin people living in the country.

The Canadian police have started their investigation into claims of Chinese “police service stations” in Montreal, Quebec, that claimed to have been established to harass or intimidate Chinese origin people living in the country. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said that they had received inputs about two sites being operated as police stations. China has denied these accusations, saying that they are just "service centres" for its nationals overseas. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday said that his government is "very concerned about" this issue. "We're in the process of making sure the RCMP is following up on this and that our intelligence systems are taking this seriously," he said, according to BBC. The move comes a year after a Spanish NGO Safeguard Defenders, which monitors disappearances in China, claimed in its report that there at least 100 such police stations operating across the globe in 53 countries, including the UK and the US. They claimed that the stations are part of efforts by China's regime to "harass, threaten, intimidate and force targets to return to China for persecution". In the aftermath of the report, several countries including the US and the Netherlands conducted similar probes. Also read | Stormy Daniels-Trump case: Former president might soon be indicted in the matter It comes amidst claims of Chinese interference in Canada's internal affairs, including accusations by the government that Beijing tried to influence the last two Canadian elections. China has denied those accusations. In a statement, the RCMP in Quebec said, “We are carrying out police actions aimed at detecting and disrupting these foreign state-backed criminal activities, which may threaten the safety of persons living in Canada." Also read | Showing middle finger a constitutional right in Canada, judge declares in a 26-page decision The police agency had launched a similar investigation in Toronto in November following reports of Chinese "police service stations". However, the RCMP in Ontario did provide any information related to that probe when it was asked on Thursday. Last week, RCMP's deputy commissioner for federal policing Michael Duheme told a parliamentary committee that the agency has "taken overt actions" that led to the ceasing of operations at four alleged Chinese police stations. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Canadian police launch probe into alleged Chinese police stations in Montreal city

The Canadian government on Tuesday (March 7) expunged the historic indecency and anti-abortion laws targeting women and members of the LGBTQ community. The repealed laws had targeted women and LGBTQ individuals' access to abortion as well as to bathhouses, nightclubs, and swinger clubs, considered to be safe spaces for the queer communities.&nbsp;

In a statement published in Cision, Canada's Minister for Public Safety Marco Mendicino said on Tuesday, "Today's additions of abortion-related, bawdy house and indecency-based offences to the Expungement of Historically Unjust Convictions Act (which came into effect in 2018) represent yet another important and necessary step towards righting historical and systemic discrimination faced by many Canadians."

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meta-grindr-not-doing-enough-to-safeguard-lgbtq-people-human-rights-watch-564464">Meta, Grindr 'not doing enough' to safeguard LGBTQ people: Human Rights Watch</a>

On the other hand, the country's Women and Gender Equality and Youth Minister Marci Ien said that citizens deserved non-discriminatory policies that put their safety first, which is why the government "recognises that past laws and regulations were unjust and compromised the freedoms of 2SLGBTQI+ communities and women."

"This is another crucial step in achieving the goals set out in the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan – by continuing to promote human rights and encourage the development of inclusive federal policies, programs, and laws," Ien added.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-a-first-five-pregnant-women-sue-the-state-of-texas-over-abortion-ban-569481">In a first, five pregnant women sue the state of Texas over abortion ban</a>

By repealing these laws, people with previous convictions can apply for an expungement order for free under the Expungement of Historically Unjust Convictions Act, which allows for the permanent destruction of historically unjust records of conviction, the news agency Reuters reported on Tuesday.&nbsp;

There is no fee to apply for an expungement order. Applicants would be needed o provide evidence that the conviction meets certain criteria. "Given the historical nature of the offences, sworn statements/solemn declarations may be accepted as evidence if applicants have demonstrated that court and police records are not available," the above statement read.&nbsp;

In case the person is deceased, an appropriate representative, such as a family member or a trustee, can apply on their behalf.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The Canadian government on Tuesday (March 7) expunged the historic indecency and anti-abortion laws targeting women and members of the LGBTQ community. The repealed laws had targeted women and LGBTQ individuals' access to abortion as well as to bathhouses, nightclubs, and swinger clubs, considered to be safe spaces for the queer communities.

The Canadian government on Tuesday (March 7) expunged the historic indecency and anti-abortion laws targeting women and members of the LGBTQ community. The repealed laws had targeted women and LGBTQ individuals' access to abortion as well as to bathhouses, nightclubs, and swinger clubs, considered to be safe spaces for the queer communities. In a statement published in Cision, Canada's Minister for Public Safety Marco Mendicino said on Tuesday, "Today's additions of abortion-related, bawdy house and indecency-based offences to the Expungement of Historically Unjust Convictions Act (which came into effect in 2018) represent yet another important and necessary step towards righting historical and systemic discrimination faced by many Canadians." ALSO READ | Meta, Grindr 'not doing enough' to safeguard LGBTQ people: Human Rights Watch On the other hand, the country's Women and Gender Equality and Youth Minister Marci Ien said that citizens deserved non-discriminatory policies that put their safety first, which is why the government "recognises that past laws and regulations were unjust and compromised the freedoms of 2SLGBTQI+ communities and women." "This is another crucial step in achieving the goals set out in the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan – by continuing to promote human rights and encourage the development of inclusive federal policies, programs, and laws," Ien added. ALSO READ | In a first, five pregnant women sue the state of Texas over abortion ban By repealing these laws, people with previous convictions can apply for an expungement order for free under the Expungement of Historically Unjust Convictions Act, which allows for the permanent destruction of historically unjust records of conviction, the news agency Reuters reported on Tuesday. There is no fee to apply for an expungement order. Applicants would be needed o provide evidence that the conviction meets certain criteria. "Given the historical nature of the offences, sworn statements/solemn declarations may be accepted as evidence if applicants have demonstrated that court and police records are not available," the above statement read. In case the person is deceased, an appropriate representative, such as a family member or a trustee, can apply on their behalf. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Canada expunges historic laws targeting women, LGBTQ community

Days after opposition parties opened up a front, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that two agencies will probe the allegations of Chinese interference in the country's elections.

Days after opposition parties opened up a front, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that two agencies will probe the allegations of Chinese interference in the country's elections. According to Trudeau, the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) and the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) will probe the matter. However, he added the caveat that neither of the investigations will be public. While NSICOP will look into the election interference angle, NSIRA will assess how Canada's security agencies responded to the allegations and handled foreign interference. Trudeau also announced the appointment of an Independent Special Rapporteur to probe classified reports about Chinese muddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. "I will be appointing an independent special rapporteur, who will have a wide mandate and make expert recommendations on combating interference and strengthening our democracy," Trudeau told reporters in Parliament Hil, Ottawa. WATCH | Gravitas | On Camera: Xi Jinping confronts Justin Trudeau Opposition parties demand public inquiry Notably, last week, Canada's opposition parties pressured the Trudeau government to open a public inquiry into alleged election interference by China. "We want to know exactly what the Chinese authoritarian government did, and whether there were political parties aware of those actions or not,” said Pierre Poilievre, Conservative party leader. Even after the announcement on Monday, the New Democrats criticised the NSICOP committee probe saying it was no substitute to a 'public inquiry'. "The way to stop foreign actors from acting in secret is to refuse to keep their secrets," said Peter Julian, New Democrat MP. Read more: 'We want to know': Canada's opposition parties call for inquiry into Chinese interference in elections Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy has refuted all the claims about election interference. “We are not interested in meddling with Canada’s internal affairs, nor have we ever tried to do so,” it said in an email. Tensions between the two countries reached a tipping point when Trudeau was given a dressing down by Chinese President Xi Jinping in front of cameras at the G20 summit in Indonesia last year. Xi scolded Trudeau for leaking details of a meeting where the Canadian prime minister brought up the issue of China interfering in Canada's affairs. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Trudeau launches probe into Chinese interference in polls after receiving stick from opposition

Canadian siblings Adiah and Adrial Nadarajah have been named by Guinness as the world's most premature twins, born at 22 weeks or 126 days early. The Canadian brother and sister have overtaken the record, previously held by twins Keeley and Kambry Ewoldt, born in 2018 in the US state of Iowa at 125 days.

Canadian siblings Adiah and Adrial Nadarajah have been named by Guinness as the world's most premature twins, born at 22 weeks or 126 days early. The Canadian brother and sister have overtaken the record, previously held by twins Keeley and Kambry Ewoldt, born in 2018 in the US state of Iowa at 125 days. Usually, pregnancy lasts for 40 weeks but Shakina Rajendram, the mother went into labour after just 21 weeks and five days. Four months early into her pregnancy, the doctors gave a zero per cent chance of survival to the babies. “When I went into labour, the babies were denied all life-sustaining measures at the hospital I was admitted to and almost left to die,” revealed Rajendram before adding, "We were in shock." As a rule of thumb, most hospitals do not attempt to save babies born before 24 to 26 weeks. According to a BBC report, Rajendram was told that if her babies were born, even a few minutes before 22 weeks, the doctors would not save them and they will be left to die. Read more: US: Woman sets Guinness World Record; runs ultramarathon for 23 consecutive days When all hope was seemingly lost, the couple was accepted by the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto which had a dedicated neonatal intensive care unit. The situation, however, still remained grim. Facing a life-and-death situation, Rajendram, on the second day of her labour tried to hold the babies for as long as possible. However, 15 minutes after midnight and less than two hours after entering 22 weeks inside the womb, Rajendram's water broke and the babies were born. The twins had a combined weight of 750 grams which also made them the ‘lightest twins at birth’. "We watched the babies almost die before our eyes many times," Rajendram told Guinness. Read more: Dogs of Chernobyl: Scientists look for genetic effects of radiation in canines around the nuclear plant Even after the babies were born, the fight was not over. The little kids had to battle a host of health complications ranging from lung disease to brain bleeding to sepsis to fluid management to breathing issues. However, after six months in the hospital - the babies managed to hold their own and recently celebrated their first birthday. Guinness released a video documenting the journey of the parents and the kids. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Canadian siblings given 0% chance of survival now hold Guinness record for world's most premature twins

Canadian companies have been given approval by the country’s federal health agency to produce and sell cocaine, seemingly reflecting Health Canada’s bid to improve safety conditions for the country’s drug addicts. This also comes after a radical policy shift to address an opioid overdose crisis which has killed thousands.&nbsp;

In a statement, a Canadian biosciences company, Sunshine Earth Labs, on Thursday (March 2) said that they have been licensed to produce and sell cocaine, a month after a similar licensing arrangement was offered to the British Columbia-based Adastra Labs.

“We will evaluate how the commercialization of this substance fits in with our business model at Adastra in an effort to position ourselves to support the demand for a safe supply of cocaine”, said the chief executive Michael Forbes of the British Columbia-based company. The labs, which until now focused on cannabis extracts, are also allowed to produce and sell hallucinogens, psilocybin and psilocin which are more commonly known as magic mushrooms.&nbsp;

The Sunshine Labs said that they received permission from the federal health agency to “legally possess, produce, sell and distribute coca leaf and cocaine” in November, last year. This was in addition to MDMA (ecstasy), morphine and diacetylmorphine (heroin). “We are incredibly proud of the progress we have made in the last year, said Donovan Edwards, CEO of Sunshine Earth Labs, in a statement.&nbsp;

He added, “we have been proactively pursuing amendments to our Dealer's License to include MDMA, coca leaf, cocaine, opium, morphine, and diacetylmorphine to position ourselves as a legitimate safer supply partner. We will continue to work on securing global trade relationships to import ethically sourced medical products for safer supply.”

Notably, the move is in line with a criminal code exemption which was granted by the government to the aforementioned Canadian province for a three-year pilot project which aims to destigmatize drug use which they believe stops people from seeking help, reported AFP. It also made British Columbia only the second jurisdiction in North America to decriminalise hard drugs following the United States’ Oregan in 2020.&nbsp;

Out of the more than 30,000 overdose-related deaths recorded across Canada, British Columbia accounted for over 10,000 since 2016 when it declared a public health emergency and was dubbed as the epicentre of the crisis. The number also represented nearly six people dying each day from toxic drug poisoning out of the five million residents of the province.&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Canadian companies have been given approval by the country’s federal health agency to produce and sell cocaine, seemingly reflecting Health Canada’s bid to improve safety conditions for the country’s drug addicts.

Canadian companies have been given approval by the country’s federal health agency to produce and sell cocaine, seemingly reflecting Health Canada’s bid to improve safety conditions for the country’s drug addicts. This also comes after a radical policy shift to address an opioid overdose crisis which has killed thousands. In a statement, a Canadian biosciences company, Sunshine Earth Labs, on Thursday (March 2) said that they have been licensed to produce and sell cocaine, a month after a similar licensing arrangement was offered to the British Columbia-based Adastra Labs. “We will evaluate how the commercialization of this substance fits in with our business model at Adastra in an effort to position ourselves to support the demand for a safe supply of cocaine”, said the chief executive Michael Forbes of the British Columbia-based company. The labs, which until now focused on cannabis extracts, are also allowed to produce and sell hallucinogens, psilocybin and psilocin which are more commonly known as magic mushrooms. The Sunshine Labs said that they received permission from the federal health agency to “legally possess, produce, sell and distribute coca leaf and cocaine” in November, last year. This was in addition to MDMA (ecstasy), morphine and diacetylmorphine (heroin). “We are incredibly proud of the progress we have made in the last year, said Donovan Edwards, CEO of Sunshine Earth Labs, in a statement. He added, “we have been proactively pursuing amendments to our Dealer's License to include MDMA, coca leaf, cocaine, opium, morphine, and diacetylmorphine to position ourselves as a legitimate safer supply partner. We will continue to work on securing global trade relationships to import ethically sourced medical products for safer supply.” Notably, the move is in line with a criminal code exemption which was granted by the government to the aforementioned Canadian province for a three-year pilot project which aims to destigmatize drug use which they believe stops people from seeking help, reported AFP. It also made British Columbia only the second jurisdiction in North America to decriminalise hard drugs following the United States’ Oregan in 2020. Out of the more than 30,000 overdose-related deaths recorded across Canada, British Columbia accounted for over 10,000 since 2016 when it declared a public health emergency and was dubbed as the epicentre of the crisis. The number also represented nearly six people dying each day from toxic drug poisoning out of the five million residents of the province. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Canadian companies have been licensed to make and sell cocaine. Here’s why

A parliamentary panel in Canada has summoned four top Google executives amid criticism over the search engine giant's test run to block some news content in the country in view of the Online News Act. Also known as Bill C-18, the Act - if cleared by Parliament - would require internet giants to compensate Canadian media firms if they republish the content on their platforms.&nbsp;

Google and its parent company, Alphabet, have also been told to submit copies of documents and messages, linked to its decision related to the Act, to the panel by Thursday (March 2), according to a report published by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.&nbsp;The Heritage committee on Tuesday (February 28) unanimously passed Liberal MP Chris Bittle's motion.&nbsp;

Last week, Google- which has called the legislation "link tax" - said&nbsp;that it was testing blocking some Canadian users' access to news as a potential response to the Online News Act. Less than 4 per cent of the nation's population would bear the impact, it further said, as the move drew anger.&nbsp;

Also watch| Google responds to US department lawsuit over alleged online ad monopoly

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/google-responds-to-us-department-lawsuit-over-alleged-online-ad-monopoly-556033/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Responding to the test run, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also lashed out at Google. "It really surprises me that Google has decided that they'd rather prevent Canadians from accessing news than actually pay journalists for the work they do. I think that's a terrible mistake and I know Canadians expect journalists to be paid for the work they do," Trudeau said.&nbsp;

The legislation passed Canada's House of Commons in December and is currently in the unelected upper chamber of the parliament. Meanwhile, Facebook too expressed apprehension about the Act.&nbsp;

 
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

A parliamentary panel in Canada has summoned four top Google executives amid criticism over the search engine giant's test run to block some news content in the country in view of the Online News Act.

A parliamentary panel in Canada has summoned four top Google executives amid criticism over the search engine giant's test run to block some news content in the country in view of the Online News Act. Also known as Bill C-18, the Act - if cleared by Parliament - would require internet giants to compensate Canadian media firms if they republish the content on their platforms. Google and its parent company, Alphabet, have also been told to submit copies of documents and messages, linked to its decision related to the Act, to the panel by Thursday (March 2), according to a report published by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The Heritage committee on Tuesday (February 28) unanimously passed Liberal MP Chris Bittle's motion. Last week, Google- which has called the legislation "link tax" - said that it was testing blocking some Canadian users' access to news as a potential response to the Online News Act. Less than 4 per cent of the nation's population would bear the impact, it further said, as the move drew anger. Also watch| Google responds to US department lawsuit over alleged online ad monopoly × Responding to the test run, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also lashed out at Google. "It really surprises me that Google has decided that they'd rather prevent Canadians from accessing news than actually pay journalists for the work they do. I think that's a terrible mistake and I know Canadians expect journalists to be paid for the work they do," Trudeau said. The legislation passed Canada's House of Commons in December and is currently in the unelected upper chamber of the parliament. Meanwhile, Facebook too expressed apprehension about the Act. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Top Google executives summoned in Canada over blocking news content

After U.S. & Canada, the European Union has decided to ban Tiktok from official devices. This ban applies on 3 major institutions of the EU. Will Europe ban the app from public devices as well? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: EU purges TikTok from official devices

Canada is the most recent nation to impose a ban on TikTok on devices provided by the government, claiming it poses a "unacceptable" level of risk to security and privacy. The action highlights the growing opposition to the social networking app owned by ByteDance, the most valued start-up in the world, due to worries about its ties to the Chinese government and control over user data globally.

Canada bans TikTok on government devices over security risks

The U.S. & Canada have decided to ban Tiktok from 'govt devices'. Will they implement a nation-wide ban? What lessons can they learn from India? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: America finally wakes up to TikTok threat

After the United States and the European Union, now Canada has decided to ban TikTok from all government-issued devices. The Canadian government said that the ban would go into effect from Tuesday (February 28) and federal employees would also be blocked from downloading the application in the future.

After the US, Canada bans the Chinese social media app TikTok from government-issued devices over security concerns. The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat in a statement said that the app presents an "unacceptable" threat to security as TikTok's data collection methods provide access to the contents of the government phone.&nbsp;

The country's federal and provincial privacy regulators are jointly investigating the Chinese app owned by ByteDance, over concerns about the use and disclosure of personal information, Reuters reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-accuses-european-union-of-not-consulting-it-over-continent-wide-employee-ban-565697">Also read |&nbsp;TikTok accuses European Union of not consulting it before continent-wide employee use ban</a>

The Treasury Board statement said, "for the broader public, the decision to use a social media application or platform is a personal choice." "However, the Communications Security Establishment’s Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre) guidance strongly recommends that Canadians understand the risks and make an informed choice on their own before deciding what tools to use."

The move comes days after the European Commission imposed a similar ban all across the continent. The commission in its statement said, "suspending the use of TikTok is a purely internal decision for cybersecurity reasons to protect the Council General Secretariat's (GSC) data and staff. As the GSC has no contractual relationship with TikTok, there is no obligation to consult or inform them."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-accuses-european-union-of-not-consulting-it-over-continent-wide-employee-ban-565697">Also read |&nbsp;Canada: TikTok under scanner as privacy regulators launch investigation</a>

TikTok has been repeatedly denying such intentions.

The social media said that it was disappointed by Canada's decision. A spokesperson in an emailed statement said that the decision was issued without citing any specific security concerns and&nbsp;no contact was made to discuss the concerns prior to the decision-making.

This recent move is another potential irritant in Sino-Canadian relations, which have been tensed for the last few years over Ottawa's suspicions that China has been conducting air and marine surveillance operations and has attempted to influence its elections. Responding to such accusations, China denied and urged Ottawa to halt what it has called unwarranted speculation and smearing.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

After the US, Canada bans the Chinese social media app TikTok from government-issued devices over security concerns. The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat in a statement said that the app presents an "unacceptable" threat to security as TikTok's data collection methods provide access to the contents of the government phone.

After the US, Canada bans the Chinese social media app TikTok from government-issued devices over security concerns. The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat in a statement said that the app presents an "unacceptable" threat to security as TikTok's data collection methods provide access to the contents of the government phone. The country's federal and provincial privacy regulators are jointly investigating the Chinese app owned by ByteDance, over concerns about the use and disclosure of personal information, Reuters reported. Also read | TikTok accuses European Union of not consulting it before continent-wide employee use ban The Treasury Board statement said, "for the broader public, the decision to use a social media application or platform is a personal choice." "However, the Communications Security Establishment’s Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre) guidance strongly recommends that Canadians understand the risks and make an informed choice on their own before deciding what tools to use." The move comes days after the European Commission imposed a similar ban all across the continent. The commission in its statement said, "suspending the use of TikTok is a purely internal decision for cybersecurity reasons to protect the Council General Secretariat's (GSC) data and staff. As the GSC has no contractual relationship with TikTok, there is no obligation to consult or inform them." Also read | Canada: TikTok under scanner as privacy regulators launch investigation TikTok has been repeatedly denying such intentions. The social media said that it was disappointed by Canada's decision. A spokesperson in an emailed statement said that the decision was issued without citing any specific security concerns and no contact was made to discuss the concerns prior to the decision-making. This recent move is another potential irritant in Sino-Canadian relations, which have been tensed for the last few years over Ottawa's suspicions that China has been conducting air and marine surveillance operations and has attempted to influence its elections. Responding to such accusations, China denied and urged Ottawa to halt what it has called unwarranted speculation and smearing. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

After US and European Commission, Canada bans TikTok from government devices over security risks

Following similar moves by the United states and EU, Canada has banned TikTok from government-issued devices and mobile phones. Seth Schachner, Managing Director of Strat Americas joins us to discuss the practical implications of this.

Is the clock ticking on TikTok?

The Rideau Canal Skateway, the world's largest open-air ice rink and a UNESCO world heritage site in Canada, will not open this year for the first time in its history because of a mild winter.

World's largest skating rink in Canada won't open this year

Canada is launching an investigation on federal as well as provincial level into short-video sharing platform TikTok. The joint investigation has been launched over concerns about the Chinese-owned platform's collection, use and disclosure of personal information of users.

Privacy Commissioner of Canada said in a statement that the federal privacy regulator and provincial regulators in Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia will investigate whether TikTok complies with Canadian privacy laws or not.

They will focus on examining "whether valid and meaningful consent is being obtained for the collection, use and disclosure of personal information," according to the statement.

A spokesperson for TikTok said the privacy and safety of users "is always a top priority" and the probe was an opportunity to "set the record straight" on how the company protects the privacy of Canadians. The spokesperson was quoted by Reuters.

TikTok is being scrutinised by agencies and governments around the world due to concerns that China may misuse the app users' data. China denies such allegations. ByteDance, a Chinese company, owns TikTok.

The European Union's two biggest policy-making institutions have banned TikTok from staff phones, while the U.S. Senate in December passed a bill to bar federal employees from using the app on government-owned devices.

The investigation also adds another potential thorn in Sino-Canadian relations which have been tense for various reasons, including recent accusations by Ottawa that China has tried to influence its elections and that it has been running air and maritime surveillance activities.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Canada is launching an investigation on federal as well as provincial level into short-video sharing platform TikTok. The joint investigation has been launched over concerns about the Chinese-owned platform's collection, use and disclosure of personal information of users.

Canada is launching an investigation on federal as well as provincial level into short-video sharing platform TikTok. The joint investigation has been launched over concerns about the Chinese-owned platform's collection, use and disclosure of personal information of users. Privacy Commissioner of Canada said in a statement that the federal privacy regulator and provincial regulators in Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia will investigate whether TikTok complies with Canadian privacy laws or not. They will focus on examining "whether valid and meaningful consent is being obtained for the collection, use and disclosure of personal information," according to the statement. A spokesperson for TikTok said the privacy and safety of users "is always a top priority" and the probe was an opportunity to "set the record straight" on how the company protects the privacy of Canadians. The spokesperson was quoted by Reuters. TikTok is being scrutinised by agencies and governments around the world due to concerns that China may misuse the app users' data. China denies such allegations. ByteDance, a Chinese company, owns TikTok. The European Union's two biggest policy-making institutions have banned TikTok from staff phones, while the U.S. Senate in December passed a bill to bar federal employees from using the app on government-owned devices. The investigation also adds another potential thorn in Sino-Canadian relations which have been tense for various reasons, including recent accusations by Ottawa that China has tried to influence its elections and that it has been running air and maritime surveillance activities. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Canada: TikTok under scanner as privacy regulators launch investigation

The military of Canada recently found evidence of Chinese surveillance in the Arctic. Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail first reported about the discovery, raising questions about the activities of China in the far north.

The discovery comes in the wake of the United States’ recent allegations against China of sending spy balloons into the US and Canada’s airspace. China has also faced accusations of interference in the Canadian elections. &nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/did-china-operate-balloons-to-spy-on-several-countries-including-india-and-japan-559989">Did China operate 'balloons' to spy on several countries, including India and Japan?</a>

Last fall, the Canadian military discovered monitoring buoys as part of Operation Limpid, which is the Canadian military’s ongoing mission tasked with identifying threats to the security of the country by surveilling land, sea and air domains.

Canadian Department of National Defence’s spokesperson Daniel Le Bouthillier, in a statement, said, “The Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are fully aware of recent efforts by China to conduct surveillance operations in Canadian airspace and maritime approaches utilising dual-purpose technologies.”

“Under Operation LIMPID, the CAF monitors Canada’s air, land and sea approaches, and since 2022, it has stopped attempts to surveil Canadian territory,” he added. 
Bouthillier did not elaborate on what was discovered. “To ensure the integrity of operations, we are unable to provide further information at this time,” he said.

Retired lieutenant-general Michael Day said that China may have used buoys to monitor the traffic of US nuclear submarines in the Arctic and for mapping ice thickness and seabeds.

WATCH |&nbsp;This World | The China- U.S. 'Spy' Balloon Row

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/this-world-the-china-us-spy-balloon-row-563242/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“China, like most nations, is super interested in the pretty significant changes that are happening up north. They do not have an icebound port, but they do have a rapidly growing icebreaking fleet,” he stated. He stated that travelling through the Arctic would have been significantly shorter for China’s ships in comparison to navigating around South America’s southern tip.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The military of Canada recently found evidence of Chinese surveillance in the Arctic. Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail first reported about the discovery, raising questions about the activities of China in the far north.

The military of Canada recently found evidence of Chinese surveillance in the Arctic. Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail first reported about the discovery, raising questions about the activities of China in the far north. The discovery comes in the wake of the United States’ recent allegations against China of sending spy balloons into the US and Canada’s airspace. China has also faced accusations of interference in the Canadian elections. ALSO READ | Did China operate 'balloons' to spy on several countries, including India and Japan? Last fall, the Canadian military discovered monitoring buoys as part of Operation Limpid, which is the Canadian military’s ongoing mission tasked with identifying threats to the security of the country by surveilling land, sea and air domains. Canadian Department of National Defence’s spokesperson Daniel Le Bouthillier, in a statement, said, “The Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are fully aware of recent efforts by China to conduct surveillance operations in Canadian airspace and maritime approaches utilising dual-purpose technologies.” “Under Operation LIMPID, the CAF monitors Canada’s air, land and sea approaches, and since 2022, it has stopped attempts to surveil Canadian territory,” he added. Bouthillier did not elaborate on what was discovered. “To ensure the integrity of operations, we are unable to provide further information at this time,” he said. Retired lieutenant-general Michael Day said that China may have used buoys to monitor the traffic of US nuclear submarines in the Arctic and for mapping ice thickness and seabeds. WATCH | This World | The China- U.S. 'Spy' Balloon Row “China, like most nations, is super interested in the pretty significant changes that are happening up north. They do not have an icebound port, but they do have a rapidly growing icebreaking fleet,” he stated. He stated that travelling through the Arctic would have been significantly shorter for China’s ships in comparison to navigating around South America’s southern tip. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Canada's military discovers evidence of Chinese surveillance in the Arctic

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), there are more than 6,500 non-indigenous species in the country&nbsp;and one more has joined the list, “super pigs” from their neighbouring country Canada. Otherwise known as wild pigs, this invasive species had already been wreaking havoc in the North American region by eating crops, spreading diseases and even killing deers.&nbsp;

What are these so-called "super pigs"?

According to a report by the Guardian, these super pigs&nbsp;are a result of cross-breeding domestic pigs with wild boars and are said to be “incredibly intelligent, highly elusive” creatures. The crossbreed was created in Canada to help pigs withstand the country’s subzero temperatures.&nbsp;

In an interview with Field and Stream, Dr Ryan Brook, who leads the University of Saskatchewan’s Canadian Wild Pig Research Project, said this hybridisation in the 1980s resulted in bigger super pigs.&nbsp;

He added, the animals with larger bodies “survive the cold better and have better reproduction in those conditions.” According to Brook, in the 2000s after the market for farmed boars dropped many escaped their enclosures and now roam approximately 620,000 square miles in Canada.&nbsp;

They are “easily the worst invasive large mammal on the planet”, said Brook to the Guardian, in a separate interview. He added, “They’re incredibly intelligent. They’re highly elusive, and also when there’s any pressure on them, especially if people start hunting them, they become almost completely nocturnal”.&nbsp;

It was not until recently their population exploded in part due to their extraordinarily high reproductive rate. One of the pigs they found was said to weigh more than 300 kg, as per Brook. At the time, when these super pigs escaped their enclosures, experts thought they would not survive the Canadian winter and eventually freeze to death.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Got pigs? This is from SW Manitoba from a few days ago. Invasive wild pigs are doing extremely well with the relatively mild winter we've had so far. Some people are seeing fewer because the pigs aren't coming to feed and bait like they normally do when its -35C!. <a href="https://twitter.com/agbiousask?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@agbiousask</a> <a href="https://t.co/emtcqBnb0c">pic.twitter.com/emtcqBnb0c</a>
— Ryan Brook 🇨🇦 Chairman of the Boar 🐗🇨🇦 (@RyanKBrook) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanKBrook/status/1625594766984372243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

However, the cold was not a problem for them as they survived it by tunnelling the snow and using “their razor-sharp tusks” to cut down a plant called cattails and line the bottom of this cave as a “nice warm insulating layer,” said Brook to the Guardian. &nbsp;

The US has a swine problem

These super pigs that are poised to enter&nbsp;the US come at a time when the country is already dealing with a swine invasion of its own. This has cost the country close to $1.5 billion in damages with around six million of them in the US, as per government estimates, reported by the Guardian.&nbsp;

“The US has a 400-plus year history with invasive wild pigs, but we didn’t have any here until the early 1980s,” Brook told Field and Stream. According to the report, so far, the invasive species has largely proliferated in states like California and Texas but they have since started thriving in Canada and may soon spread to northern states like North Dakota, Montana, Michigan, and Minnesota.&nbsp;

“We see direct competition for our native species for food,” said Michael Marlow, the US Department of Agriculture official to the Guardian. He added that these pigs are “accomplished predators” with the male of the species having long tusks capable of hunting young fawns, turkeys and potentially quail.&nbsp;

Until a few decades ago, the pig’s existence was not an issue, said Marlow, but soon officials began noting an explosion in their population. He attributed this to the illegal smuggling of pigs by hunters who were “drugged and moved around, not always legally, and dropped in areas to allow the populations to develop”.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Brook told Field and Stream there is a high chance the pigs have already entered the US. “We have documented pig occurrences less than 10 miles from the US border. Quite honestly, I think there have already been some in Manitoba going into North Dakota for the last five or six years”, said the Canadian researcher. He added, there is a “real risk of pigs moving south into the US”.&nbsp;

Why is this concerning?&nbsp;

These super pigs “feed on anything. They gobble up tons and tons of goslings and ducklings in the spring. They can take down a whitetail deer, even an adult,” said Brook, as per Field and Stream. Furthermore, they create a lot of environmental damage like eating crops grown by farmers, destroying trees, and even polluting water.&nbsp;

Pigs are also said to be capable carriers of viruses such as flu, which are transmittable to humans. Similarly, Marlow said that these pose “a human health and safety risk”. There is also a risk of a potential impact of a pig-borne disease like African swine fever. In 2018 and 2019, the disease reportedly killed more than 30 per cent of the 400 million pigs in China.&nbsp; 
 
Mitigating the issue

Marlow, who is also assistant program manager for the US agriculture department’s National Feral Swine Damage Management Program said, his team has managed to eradicate pigs in seven states over the past decade, as per the Guardian. However, there is little hope to get rid of the swine completely, he added.&nbsp;

Echoing a similar sentiment, Brook told Field and Stream that there are no definitive population estimates and it is too late to get rid of these super pigs in Canada. However, they are working to mitigate the issue and one of the most effective control strategies was ground-trapping sounders (a herd of wild swine). His team uses what he called the “Judas pig” method where one pig is captured and fitted with a GPS collar and released into the wild in hope that it would lead them to a sounder.&nbsp;

“The idea is that you go and find that collared animal, remove any pigs that are with it, and in ideal world then let it go again and it will just continue to find more and more pigs,” said Brook to the Guardian. Brook also said that hunting them is not effective so the most important thing people can do is to alert authorities, reported Field and Stream.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), there are more than 6,500 non-indigenous species in the country and one more has joined the list, “super pigs” from their neighbouring country Canada.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), there are more than 6,500 non-indigenous species in the country and one more has joined the list, “super pigs” from their neighbouring country Canada. Otherwise known as wild pigs, this invasive species had already been wreaking havoc in the North American region by eating crops, spreading diseases and even killing deers. What are these so-called "super pigs"? According to a report by the Guardian, these super pigs are a result of cross-breeding domestic pigs with wild boars and are said to be “incredibly intelligent, highly elusive” creatures. The crossbreed was created in Canada to help pigs withstand the country’s subzero temperatures. In an interview with Field and Stream, Dr Ryan Brook, who leads the University of Saskatchewan’s Canadian Wild Pig Research Project, said this hybridisation in the 1980s resulted in bigger super pigs. He added, the animals with larger bodies “survive the cold better and have better reproduction in those conditions.” According to Brook, in the 2000s after the market for farmed boars dropped many escaped their enclosures and now roam approximately 620,000 square miles in Canada. They are “easily the worst invasive large mammal on the planet”, said Brook to the Guardian, in a separate interview. He added, “They’re incredibly intelligent. They’re highly elusive, and also when there’s any pressure on them, especially if people start hunting them, they become almost completely nocturnal”. It was not until recently their population exploded in part due to their extraordinarily high reproductive rate. One of the pigs they found was said to weigh more than 300 kg, as per Brook. At the time, when these super pigs escaped their enclosures, experts thought they would not survive the Canadian winter and eventually freeze to death. Got pigs? This is from SW Manitoba from a few days ago. Invasive wild pigs are doing extremely well with the relatively mild winter we've had so far. Some people are seeing fewer because the pigs aren't coming to feed and bait like they normally do when its -35C!. @agbiousask pic.twitter.com/emtcqBnb0c — Ryan Brook 🇨🇦 Chairman of the Boar 🐗🇨🇦 (@RyanKBrook) February 14, 2023 × However, the cold was not a problem for them as they survived it by tunnelling the snow and using “their razor-sharp tusks” to cut down a plant called cattails and line the bottom of this cave as a “nice warm insulating layer,” said Brook to the Guardian. The US has a swine problem These super pigs that are poised to enter the US come at a time when the country is already dealing with a swine invasion of its own. This has cost the country close to $1.5 billion in damages with around six million of them in the US, as per government estimates, reported by the Guardian. “The US has a 400-plus year history with invasive wild pigs, but we didn’t have any here until the early 1980s,” Brook told Field and Stream. According to the report, so far, the invasive species has largely proliferated in states like California and Texas but they have since started thriving in Canada and may soon spread to northern states like North Dakota, Montana, Michigan, and Minnesota. “We see direct competition for our native species for food,” said Michael Marlow, the US Department of Agriculture official to the Guardian. He added that these pigs are “accomplished predators” with the male of the species having long tusks capable of hunting young fawns, turkeys and potentially quail. Until a few decades ago, the pig’s existence was not an issue, said Marlow, but soon officials began noting an explosion in their population. He attributed this to the illegal smuggling of pigs by hunters who were “drugged and moved around, not always legally, and dropped in areas to allow the populations to develop”. Meanwhile, Brook told Field and Stream there is a high chance the pigs have already entered the US. “We have documented pig occurrences less than 10 miles from the US border. Quite honestly, I think there have already been some in Manitoba going into North Dakota for the last five or six years”, said the Canadian researcher. He added, there is a “real risk of pigs moving south into the US”. Why is this concerning? These super pigs “feed on anything. They gobble up tons and tons of goslings and ducklings in the spring. They can take down a whitetail deer, even an adult,” said Brook, as per Field and Stream. Furthermore, they create a lot of environmental damage like eating crops grown by farmers, destroying trees, and even polluting water. Pigs are also said to be capable carriers of viruses such as flu, which are transmittable to humans. Similarly, Marlow said that these pose “a human health and safety risk”. There is also a risk of a potential impact of a pig-borne disease like African swine fever. In 2018 and 2019, the disease reportedly killed more than 30 per cent of the 400 million pigs in China. Mitigating the issue Marlow, who is also assistant program manager for the US agriculture department’s National Feral Swine Damage Management Program said, his team has managed to eradicate pigs in seven states over the past decade, as per the Guardian. However, there is little hope to get rid of the swine completely, he added. Echoing a similar sentiment, Brook told Field and Stream that there are no definitive population estimates and it is too late to get rid of these super pigs in Canada. However, they are working to mitigate the issue and one of the most effective control strategies was ground-trapping sounders (a herd of wild swine). His team uses what he called the “Judas pig” method where one pig is captured and fitted with a GPS collar and released into the wild in hope that it would lead them to a sounder. “The idea is that you go and find that collared animal, remove any pigs that are with it, and in ideal world then let it go again and it will just continue to find more and more pigs,” said Brook to the Guardian. Brook also said that hunting them is not effective so the most important thing people can do is to alert authorities, reported Field and Stream. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained | US faces threat from invasive Canadian ‘super pigs’: All you need to know

It has been decades since the wild pigs have been affecting flora and fauna in the US. They gobble up crops, spread disease and even go on a killing spree of deer and elk. Now, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has informed that other non-indigenous species of pigs have been spotted in the country. They are being called “super pigs” and are expected to come to the US from the neighbouring country Canada. They are also known as wild pigs and have invasive tendencies that cause significant damage to crops. &nbsp;The survey described these pigs as “incredibly intelligent, highly elusive beasts” who can even survive extremely cold climates by tunnelling under snow.&nbsp;

This sudden emergence of the so-called super pig is a result of cross-breeding domestic pigs with wild boars. This has now become a headache for the US which is already facing a swine invasion. &nbsp;Pigs are actually not native to the US but have brought havoc in recent decades to the country. The government estimates that the country’s approximately 6 million wild or feral pigs cause a loss of $ 1.5 billion every year.&nbsp;

Dr Ryan Brook, who leads the University of Saskatchewan’s Canadian Wild Pig Research Project, said that this hybridisation in the 1980s resulted in bigger super pigs, in an interview with Field and Stream.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/selfie-with-spy-balloon-us-pilot-captures-chinese-balloon-at-60000-feet-565011">Selfie with spy balloon! US pilot captures Chinese balloon at 60,000 feet</a>

Animals with larger bodies “survive the cold better and have better reproduction in those conditions", he explained adding, “They’re incredibly intelligent. They’re highly elusive, and also when there’s any pressure on them, especially if people start hunting them, they become almost completely nocturnal”.

In some parts of the US, this problem has grown to such levels that a whole hog hunting industry has been opened up. People are ready to pay thousands of dollars to mow down boar and sow with machine guns. This extreme impact of the pigs was first experienced in the US in the 16th century and has been very much negative since then.&nbsp;

“We see direct competition for our native species for food,” said Michael Marlow, assistant program manager for the Department of Agriculture’s national feral swine damage management program.

Watch |&nbsp;African swine fever threatens Hungarian Mangalica pig

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/african-swine-fever-threatens-hungarian-mangalica-pig-367887/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

“However, pigs have also accomplished predators. They’ll opportunistically come upon a hidden animal, and the males have long tusks, so they’re very capable of running and grabbing one with their mouth. They’ll kill young fawns, they’re known to be nest predators, so they impact turkeys and potentially quail.”

These wild pigs are also responsible for a number of environmental damages, from eating innocent farmers’ crops to destroying trees and polluting water. They also put human health at high risk. &nbsp;A pig is a “mixing vessel” that is capable of carrying viruses, such as flu, which are transmittable to humans.&nbsp;

National Geographic reported that pigs have the potential to create a novel influenza virus which could spread to humankind. The first record of pigs in the continental US was reported in 1539 when the Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto landed in Florida with an entourage of 13 swine.&nbsp;

The number of pigs in the US has since grown to more than 6 million in some 34 states. The pigs weigh between 75 and 250 lbs on average but can weigh twice as large as that, according to USDA. &nbsp;

Marlow and his team had managed to eradicate pigs in seven states over the past decade, but with little realistic hope of getting rid of the swine completely, there are also fears over the potential impact of n=big-borne disease, particularly African swine fever.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadas-military-discovers-evidence-of-chinese-surveillance-in-the-arctic-564970">Canada's military discovers evidence of Chinese surveillance in the Arctic</a>

China has more than 400 million pigs- which is half of the world’s pig population. In 2018 and 2019, African swine fever wiped out more than 30 per cent of the pig population. This African swine fever was also presented in Europe, but Marlow said it has not yet been detected in the Americas.&nbsp;

These wild pigs have escaped captivity and swiftly spread across Canada, with the super pig proving to be an incredibly proficient breeder, Brook said, while its giant size – one pig has been clocked at more than 300kg (661lbs) – makes it able to survive the frigid western Canada winters, where the wind chill can be -50C.

Scientists and researchers in the US and Canada have had some success with catching whole sounders of pigs in big traps, while in the US attempts have been made – sometimes unsuccessfully – at poisoning wild pigs.

One method that has worked in the US, Brook said, is the use of a “Judas pig”. A lone pig is captured and fitted with a GPS collar, then released into the wild, where hopefully it will join a group of unsuspecting swine.&nbsp;

“The idea is that you go and find that collared animal, remove any pigs that are with it, and in an ideal world then let it go again and it will just continue to find more and more pigs,” Brook said.

Brook said a variety of methods are required to tackle the big problem. But the efforts are more about managing the damage caused by these non-native mammals, rather than getting rid of the pigs completely. In Canada, that chance has gone.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

It has been decades since the wild pigs have been affecting flora and fauna in the US. They gobble up crops, spread disease and even go on a killing spree of deer and elk.

It has been decades since the wild pigs have been affecting flora and fauna in the US. They gobble up crops, spread disease and even go on a killing spree of deer and elk. Now, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has informed that other non-indigenous species of pigs have been spotted in the country. They are being called “super pigs” and are expected to come to the US from the neighbouring country Canada. They are also known as wild pigs and have invasive tendencies that cause significant damage to crops. The survey described these pigs as “incredibly intelligent, highly elusive beasts” who can even survive extremely cold climates by tunnelling under snow. This sudden emergence of the so-called super pig is a result of cross-breeding domestic pigs with wild boars. This has now become a headache for the US which is already facing a swine invasion. Pigs are actually not native to the US but have brought havoc in recent decades to the country. The government estimates that the country’s approximately 6 million wild or feral pigs cause a loss of $ 1.5 billion every year. Dr Ryan Brook, who leads the University of Saskatchewan’s Canadian Wild Pig Research Project, said that this hybridisation in the 1980s resulted in bigger super pigs, in an interview with Field and Stream. Also Read | Selfie with spy balloon! US pilot captures Chinese balloon at 60,000 feet Animals with larger bodies “survive the cold better and have better reproduction in those conditions", he explained adding, “They’re incredibly intelligent. They’re highly elusive, and also when there’s any pressure on them, especially if people start hunting them, they become almost completely nocturnal”. In some parts of the US, this problem has grown to such levels that a whole hog hunting industry has been opened up. People are ready to pay thousands of dollars to mow down boar and sow with machine guns. This extreme impact of the pigs was first experienced in the US in the 16th century and has been very much negative since then. “We see direct competition for our native species for food,” said Michael Marlow, assistant program manager for the Department of Agriculture’s national feral swine damage management program. Watch | African swine fever threatens Hungarian Mangalica pig × “However, pigs have also accomplished predators. They’ll opportunistically come upon a hidden animal, and the males have long tusks, so they’re very capable of running and grabbing one with their mouth. They’ll kill young fawns, they’re known to be nest predators, so they impact turkeys and potentially quail.” These wild pigs are also responsible for a number of environmental damages, from eating innocent farmers’ crops to destroying trees and polluting water. They also put human health at high risk. A pig is a “mixing vessel” that is capable of carrying viruses, such as flu, which are transmittable to humans. National Geographic reported that pigs have the potential to create a novel influenza virus which could spread to humankind. The first record of pigs in the continental US was reported in 1539 when the Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto landed in Florida with an entourage of 13 swine. The number of pigs in the US has since grown to more than 6 million in some 34 states. The pigs weigh between 75 and 250 lbs on average but can weigh twice as large as that, according to USDA. Marlow and his team had managed to eradicate pigs in seven states over the past decade, but with little realistic hope of getting rid of the swine completely, there are also fears over the potential impact of n=big-borne disease, particularly African swine fever. Also Read | Canada's military discovers evidence of Chinese surveillance in the Arctic China has more than 400 million pigs- which is half of the world’s pig population. In 2018 and 2019, African swine fever wiped out more than 30 per cent of the pig population. This African swine fever was also presented in Europe, but Marlow said it has not yet been detected in the Americas. These wild pigs have escaped captivity and swiftly spread across Canada, with the super pig proving to be an incredibly proficient breeder, Brook said, while its giant size – one pig has been clocked at more than 300kg (661lbs) – makes it able to survive the frigid western Canada winters, where the wind chill can be -50C. Scientists and researchers in the US and Canada have had some success with catching whole sounders of pigs in big traps, while in the US attempts have been made – sometimes unsuccessfully – at poisoning wild pigs. One method that has worked in the US, Brook said, is the use of a “Judas pig”. A lone pig is captured and fitted with a GPS collar, then released into the wild, where hopefully it will join a group of unsuspecting swine. “The idea is that you go and find that collared animal, remove any pigs that are with it, and in an ideal world then let it go again and it will just continue to find more and more pigs,” Brook said. Brook said a variety of methods are required to tackle the big problem. But the efforts are more about managing the damage caused by these non-native mammals, rather than getting rid of the pigs completely. In Canada, that chance has gone. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

How Canadian invasive 'super pigs' are threatening flora and fauna in the US? Know everything

Google confirmed on Wednesday (February 22) that the search giant was rolling out tests that would impede attempts of some Canadian users to access news content. Reuters reported that Google said that these tests were a potential response to Canada's online news bill. The "Online News Act" bill was introduced by Justin Trudeau's Liberal government in April. The bill lays out rules to force platforms like Google, Facebook and others to negotiate deals with news publishers for their content.

"We're briefly testing potential product responses to Bill C-18 that impact a very small percentage of Canadian users. We run thousands of tests each year to assess any potential changes to Search," said Google as quoted by Reuters.

The company said that these tests are time-limited and will impact a random sampling of less than 4 per cent of users in Canada. It will "limit the visibility of Canadian and international news to varying degrees."

A spokeswoman for Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez said Canadians will not be intimidated and called it disappointing that Google is borrowing from Meta's playbook.

"Canadians need to have access to quality, fact-based news at the local and national levels, and that’s why we introduced the Online News Act. Tech giants need to be more transparent and accountable to Canadians," the spokeswoman said.

Last year, Facebook had warned of blocking of some news content in Canada in response to concerns about legislation that would compel platforms to pay news publishers.

According to a report, a similar law in Australia, which led to brief shutdown of Facebook news feeds, has largely worked.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Google confirmed on Wednesday (February 22) that the search giant was rolling out tests that would impede attempts of some Canadian users to access news content.

Google confirmed on Wednesday (February 22) that the search giant was rolling out tests that would impede attempts of some Canadian users to access news content. Reuters reported that Google said that these tests were a potential response to Canada's online news bill. The "Online News Act" bill was introduced by Justin Trudeau's Liberal government in April. The bill lays out rules to force platforms like Google, Facebook and others to negotiate deals with news publishers for their content. "We're briefly testing potential product responses to Bill C-18 that impact a very small percentage of Canadian users. We run thousands of tests each year to assess any potential changes to Search," said Google as quoted by Reuters. The company said that these tests are time-limited and will impact a random sampling of less than 4 per cent of users in Canada. It will "limit the visibility of Canadian and international news to varying degrees." A spokeswoman for Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez said Canadians will not be intimidated and called it disappointing that Google is borrowing from Meta's playbook. "Canadians need to have access to quality, fact-based news at the local and national levels, and that’s why we introduced the Online News Act. Tech giants need to be more transparent and accountable to Canadians," the spokeswoman said. Last year, Facebook had warned of blocking of some news content in Canada in response to concerns about legislation that would compel platforms to pay news publishers. According to a report, a similar law in Australia, which led to brief shutdown of Facebook news feeds, has largely worked. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Google carrying out tests that'll block news content for some users in Canada

Indian&nbsp;Consulate in Toronto, Canada expressed its displeasure at defacement of a Ram Mandir in&nbsp;Mississauga. The incident at the temple took place on February 13 (Monday). The anti-India graffiti at the temple was allegedly made by 'Khalistani extremists'. India has urged Canadian authorities to find the perpetrators.

"We strongly condemn the defacing of Ram Mandir in Mississauga with anti-India graffiti. We have requested Canadian authorities to investigate the incident and take prompt action on perpetrators," India's Consulate in Toronto tweeted on Tuesday.

"Vandalism occurred overnight (February 13th) at the Shri Ram Mandir in Mississauga, Ontario Canada. We at the Ram Mandir are very disturbed by this occurrence and we are working with the appropriate law enforcement authority on this matter," the Facebook page of the temple said.

Pro-Khalistani slogans and anti-India graffiti was seen painted the walls of the temple.

This is not the first time a Hindu temple was defaced in Canada. Last month, a temple in Brampton, Canada was painted with hate-filled anti-India messages. This had caused an outrage among the Indian-Canadian community.

In September, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Toronto was defaced by "Canadian Khalistani extremists".

The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha is a spiritual, volunteer-driven faith dedicated to improving society through individual growth by fostering the Hindu ideals of faith, unity, and selfless service.

Last September, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement condemning the rise of hate crimes against Indians and anti-India activities in Canada, expressing their concern with stern language.

Statistics Canada reported a 72 per cent increase in hate crimes based on religion, sexual orientation, and race between 2019 and 2021.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Indian Consulate in Toronto, Canada expressed its displeasure at defacement of a Ram Mandir in Mississauga. The incident at the temple took place on February 13 (Monday).

Indian Consulate in Toronto, Canada expressed its displeasure at defacement of a Ram Mandir in Mississauga. The incident at the temple took place on February 13 (Monday). The anti-India graffiti at the temple was allegedly made by 'Khalistani extremists'. India has urged Canadian authorities to find the perpetrators. "We strongly condemn the defacing of Ram Mandir in Mississauga with anti-India graffiti. We have requested Canadian authorities to investigate the incident and take prompt action on perpetrators," India's Consulate in Toronto tweeted on Tuesday. "Vandalism occurred overnight (February 13th) at the Shri Ram Mandir in Mississauga, Ontario Canada. We at the Ram Mandir are very disturbed by this occurrence and we are working with the appropriate law enforcement authority on this matter," the Facebook page of the temple said. Pro-Khalistani slogans and anti-India graffiti was seen painted the walls of the temple. This is not the first time a Hindu temple was defaced in Canada. Last month, a temple in Brampton, Canada was painted with hate-filled anti-India messages. This had caused an outrage among the Indian-Canadian community. In September, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Toronto was defaced by "Canadian Khalistani extremists". The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha is a spiritual, volunteer-driven faith dedicated to improving society through individual growth by fostering the Hindu ideals of faith, unity, and selfless service. Last September, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement condemning the rise of hate crimes against Indians and anti-India activities in Canada, expressing their concern with stern language. Statistics Canada reported a 72 per cent increase in hate crimes based on religion, sexual orientation, and race between 2019 and 2021. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

India fumes after Hindu temple in Canada gets defaced

The United States shot down another unidentified object, the third in the last one week, on Saturday (February 11), this time&nbsp;over Canada.&nbsp;The ongoing saga of these high-altitude flying objects started with the spotting of a white-coloured Chinese balloon flying in US airspace. The US authorities tracked the suspected spy balloon for a couple of days and eventually shot it down as soon as it was deemed safe and&nbsp;recovered the debris which is being analysed.

What makes the entire episode a big deal is that&nbsp;the US took unprecedented action to tackle the unidentified objects&nbsp;after considering safety threats and the president was fully involved in the operation.&nbsp;

A US State Department official said that the Chinese spy balloon&nbsp;had equipment that was "clearly for intelligence surveillance". On condition of anonymity, the official told news agencies that the balloon had "multiple antennas" that were "likely capable of collecting and geo-locating communications."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-f-22-fighter-jet-shoots-down-unidentified-object-over-northern-canada-561034">US F-22 fighter jet shoots down another ‘unidentified object’, over northern Canada</a>&nbsp;

However, China said it was a civilian "airship" which was used for research. Beijing also commented on the shooting down of the balloon, saying that it tested "US sincerity in improving and stabilising China-US relations and its way of handling crises".&nbsp;

On Saturday, the US shot down a "high-altitude object" which was flying over Alaska. The operation was carried out on the orders of US President Joe Biden.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I ordered the take down of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace. <a href="https://twitter.com/NORADCommand?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NORADCommand</a> shot down the object over the Yukon. Canadian and U.S. aircraft were scrambled, and a U.S. F-22 successfully fired at the object.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1624527579116871681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I spoke with President Biden this afternoon. Canadian Forces will now recover and analyze the wreckage of the object. Thank you to NORAD for keeping the watch over North America.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1624527581331554306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2>What do we know about these balloons?&nbsp;</h2>

The US claims that the first Chinese balloon was meant more or less for "spying". Meanwhile, not much information has been shared by the US administration and Pentagon on the other two incidents.&nbsp;

Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand said that the object shot down on Saturday was cylindrical, but she avoided saying anything definitively about its likely origin and purpose. So far, two recently spotted objects remain a mystery and the world knows little about them.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-shoots-down-high-altitude-object-hovering-over-alaska-biden-calls-it-success-560894">US shoots down 'high-altitude object', Biden calls it 'success', Justin Trudeau supports decision</a>&nbsp;

Anand said that the object shot down in the Yukon region was "small, cylindrical" and flying at an altitude of approximately 40,000 feet. It had unlawfully entered Canadian airspace and posed a reasonable threat to the safety of civilian flights.&nbsp;

The US Department of Defense said that the&nbsp;US and Canadian planes flew together to take down the object on Saturday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Why are these objects being spotted more than ever, especially by the US?&nbsp;</h2>

A recent report by The Washington Post claimed that China has used these balloons to spy on other countries, including India and. Japan. But the spotting of these objects and shooting down has become common just recently.&nbsp;

According to the report, the officials said that these surveillance balloons have been spotted over five continents and are being operated in part by the People's Liberation Army air force. But the source-based report hasn't been confirmed by the government.&nbsp;

But why haven't other countries reported it? Does the US have specialised technology to spot such objects?&nbsp;

A source-based report by CNN claimed that the US has developed a method within the last one year to track China's spy balloon fleet. The report claimed that such incidents happened in the past also, but went&nbsp;undetected.&nbsp;

One such incident happened after President Joe Biden took office in 2021, and after that, the intelligence community "ran some of the balloon's signals through the American intelligence holdings and other data".&nbsp;

Watch this report:&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/canada-defence-minister-object-posed-a-risk-to-civilians-561047/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2>What is NORAD?&nbsp;</h2>

Pentagon Spokesman Pat Ryder said in a statement that Biden had authorised US fighter aircraft assigned to NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) to work with Canada to take down a high-altitude airborne object over northern Canada.&nbsp;

NORAD is a combined organisation of the US and Canada that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty and protection for both nations.&nbsp;

The Chinese balloon saga has led to a diplomatic flare-up between the two superpowers, and misinformation may escalate the situation further.&nbsp;

So far, there's no official statement that can provide the exact origin of two unidentified objects. Authorities are looking for the debris, but the Northern Command said in a statement that the search and recovery operations for the remains of that object continued Saturday but were hindered by the Arctic "wind chill, snow, and limited daylight". &nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Statement from NORAD &amp; U.S. Northern Command <a href="https://t.co/aY1VXRCpEs">pic.twitter.com/aY1VXRCpEs</a>
— North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) <a href="https://twitter.com/NORADCommand/status/1624596337890058240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The United States shot down another unidentified object, the third in the last one week, on Saturday (February 11), this time over Canada. The ongoing saga of these high-altitude flying objects started with the spotting of a white-coloured Chinese balloon flying in US airspace.

The United States shot down another unidentified object, the third in the last one week, on Saturday (February 11), this time over Canada. The ongoing saga of these high-altitude flying objects started with the spotting of a white-coloured Chinese balloon flying in US airspace. The US authorities tracked the suspected spy balloon for a couple of days and eventually shot it down as soon as it was deemed safe and recovered the debris which is being analysed. What makes the entire episode a big deal is that the US took unprecedented action to tackle the unidentified objects after considering safety threats and the president was fully involved in the operation. A US State Department official said that the Chinese spy balloon had equipment that was "clearly for intelligence surveillance". On condition of anonymity, the official told news agencies that the balloon had "multiple antennas" that were "likely capable of collecting and geo-locating communications." ALSO READ | US F-22 fighter jet shoots down another ‘unidentified object’, over northern Canada However, China said it was a civilian "airship" which was used for research. Beijing also commented on the shooting down of the balloon, saying that it tested "US sincerity in improving and stabilising China-US relations and its way of handling crises". On Saturday, the US shot down a "high-altitude object" which was flying over Alaska. The operation was carried out on the orders of US President Joe Biden. I ordered the take down of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace. @NORADCommand shot down the object over the Yukon. Canadian and U.S. aircraft were scrambled, and a U.S. F-22 successfully fired at the object. — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 11, 2023 × I spoke with President Biden this afternoon. Canadian Forces will now recover and analyze the wreckage of the object. Thank you to NORAD for keeping the watch over North America. — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 11, 2023 × What do we know about these balloons? The US claims that the first Chinese balloon was meant more or less for "spying". Meanwhile, not much information has been shared by the US administration and Pentagon on the other two incidents. Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand said that the object shot down on Saturday was cylindrical, but she avoided saying anything definitively about its likely origin and purpose. So far, two recently spotted objects remain a mystery and the world knows little about them. ALSO READ | US shoots down 'high-altitude object', Biden calls it 'success', Justin Trudeau supports decision Anand said that the object shot down in the Yukon region was "small, cylindrical" and flying at an altitude of approximately 40,000 feet. It had unlawfully entered Canadian airspace and posed a reasonable threat to the safety of civilian flights. The US Department of Defense said that the US and Canadian planes flew together to take down the object on Saturday. Why are these objects being spotted more than ever, especially by the US? A recent report by The Washington Post claimed that China has used these balloons to spy on other countries, including India and. Japan. But the spotting of these objects and shooting down has become common just recently. According to the report, the officials said that these surveillance balloons have been spotted over five continents and are being operated in part by the People's Liberation Army air force. But the source-based report hasn't been confirmed by the government. But why haven't other countries reported it? Does the US have specialised technology to spot such objects? A source-based report by CNN claimed that the US has developed a method within the last one year to track China's spy balloon fleet. The report claimed that such incidents happened in the past also, but went undetected. One such incident happened after President Joe Biden took office in 2021, and after that, the intelligence community "ran some of the balloon's signals through the American intelligence holdings and other data". Watch this report: × What is NORAD? Pentagon Spokesman Pat Ryder said in a statement that Biden had authorised US fighter aircraft assigned to NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) to work with Canada to take down a high-altitude airborne object over northern Canada. NORAD is a combined organisation of the US and Canada that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty and protection for both nations. The Chinese balloon saga has led to a diplomatic flare-up between the two superpowers, and misinformation may escalate the situation further. So far, there's no official statement that can provide the exact origin of two unidentified objects. Authorities are looking for the debris, but the Northern Command said in a statement that the search and recovery operations for the remains of that object continued Saturday but were hindered by the Arctic "wind chill, snow, and limited daylight". Statement from NORAD & U.S. Northern Command pic.twitter.com/aY1VXRCpEs — North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) February 12, 2023 × WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US shoots down another unidentified object: What are these & why are they being spotted more now?

canada

Canada, News on Canada, stories on Canada, articles on Canada, Canada stories at Wion, Canada news, Canada latest news