India, Canada Look To Reset Ties As Talks Begin On Key Trade Deal CEPA

In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, India and Canada have agreed to launch negotiations on a high-ambition Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), marking a major reset in ties after years of turbulence. The development was announced following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg today.

The Canada-India CEPA negotiations began in 2010 and gained momentum in 2022 with enhanced cooperation in sectors such as pharmaceuticals and critical and rare earth minerals, as well as in areas like tourism, urban infrastructure, renewable energy and mining. The talks were suspended by Canada in 2023.

According to a statement issued by India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) late Sunday, both sides committed to pursuing an ambitious trade pact aimed at doubling bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030. The renewed engagement also includes deepening longstanding civil nuclear cooperation and advancing discussions on long-term uranium supply arrangements, an area of shared strategic interest.

This diplomatic thaw comes after a prolonged period of strain between New Delhi and Ottawa. Over the past several years, India has repeatedly raised concerns about the Khalistani extremist networks operating from Canadian soil, which it says pose a direct threat to India's national security. Ties deteriorated sharply in 2023 after former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau levelled unsubstantiated allegations against India regarding the killing of a Canadian citizen linked to Khalistani separatism. India dismissed the claims as politically motivated and lacking evidence, leading to reciprocal diplomatic downsizing and a freeze in trade negotiations.

The shift in tone began earlier this year, driven by sustained engagement between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand. The two leaders met multiple times, paving the way for confidence-building measures and the gradual restoration of normal diplomatic channels. In October 2025, both countries formally announced the normalisation of diplomatic ties, including the reinstatement of High Commissioners in New Delhi and Ottawa.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking to the media earlier on Sunday, said, "Canada is reengaging pragmatically with global giants India and China. Yesterday, Canada, India and Australia formed a new trilateral partnership on technology and innovation, which will accelerate our cooperation in critical and emerging technologies. The partnership will draw on our strengths and will focus on clean energy, critical minerals and artificial intelligence to unlock more opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses".

The potential trade deal is likely to include goods, services, investments, agriculture, digital trade, labour mobility and sustainable development, including the mutual interest in advancing the use of AI and digital technology.

The Johannesburg meeting appears to have consolidated that momentum. Apart from CEPA, PM Modi and Carney welcomed the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACTI) Partnership aimed at boosting trilateral cooperation in critical technologies, AI, nuclear energy, and supply chain diversification.

With negotiations on CEPA set to begin and high-level exchanges back on track, India and Canada now stand poised to rebuild a partnership once considered jeopardised. The coming months will test whether this political reset can translate into durable economic and strategic gains for both nations.

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'You Have Votes, I Have Funds': Ajit Pawar's 'Threat' To Voters In Malegaon

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar set the cat among the pigeons while campaigning for local elections when he appeared to threaten voters, saying he would release funds he had promised only if all of his party's candidates were elected. 

Addressing a rally for the Nagar Panchayat elections at Malegaon in Baramati tehsil on Friday, the NCP chief, who also holds the Finance portfolio, said the party had fielded 18 candidates. 

"The Centre and the state have many schemes. The Prime Minister, chief minister and both deputy chief ministers have worked on these together. If all of us work together and implement these schemes properly, we can ensure development for Malegaon," Pawar said. 

"I will ensure there is no shortage of funds if you elect all 18 NCP candidates. If you elect all of them, I will fulfil whatever I have promised. But if you 'cut' my candidates, I will also "cut" (the funds). You have the power to vote, and I have the power to release funds. Now decide what you want to do," he said.

The Opposition slammed the deputy chief minister's remarks and also wondered why the Election Commission has not taken any action. 

"Funds are given from the taxes paid by the common people and not from Ajit Pawar's house. If a leader like Pawar is threatening voters, what is the Election Commission doing?" Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasheb BT) leader Ambadas Danve was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Elections for Nagar Panchayats will be held on December 2.

Earlier Remarks

This is not the first time Pawar has landed himself in hot water with his comments. In January, he was scheduled to address a public meeting in his Assembly constituency of Baramati when he was handed memoranda with demands. 

An angry Pawar had then said, "You have voted for me, but that doesn't mean you own me."

In September, Pawar had sparked a controversy when he was accused of threatening a woman police officer who was cracking down on illegal excavation in Solapur.

The officer, who had been posted to Maharashtra only recently, was handed a phone by an NCP worker and told Pawar was on the line. She informed the deputy chief minister she did not recognise his voice and asked him to call on her cellphone. 

"Main tere upar action lunga (I will act against you). Tujhe mujhe dekhna hai na? Tera number de do ya WhatsApp call karo. Mera chehra toh aapko samajh mein aaega na? (You want to see me, right? Give me your number or call me on WhatsApp. You will recognise my face, right?)... Itna aapko daring hua hai kya (How dare you?)," he asked the officer, before video-calling her and asking her to stop the action she was taking.

Pawar had later claimed he was not threatening the officer or interfering with the law, but was trying to prevent an escalation in the situation on the ground. 

In 2013, the NCP leader had mocked a farmer who had been on a hunger strike for nearly two months, demanding water be released from a dam in the drought-hit state. 

"There is this person from Solapur, sitting on hunger strike for 55 days, demanding water be released from the dam. But where are we going to get water from? Should we urinate? And when we don't have water to drink, it's hard to pass urine as well," he had said.

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'What Are They Smoking?' India A Blasted For Suryavanshi's Super Over Snub

In a baffling turn during the semi-final of the Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025 in Doha, the management of India A left 14-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi stranded in the dug-out during the Super Over, even after his explosive 38 off 15 in the match proper. The decision saw India A crash out to Bangladesh A without scoring in the tie-breaker, prompting former India pacer Dodda Ganesh to publicly lambast the leadership with a blunt "What are these guys smoking?" reaction on X.

Not sending Vaibhav Suryavamshi to bat in the Super over? What are these guys smoking? #AsiaCup

— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) November 21, 2025

India A, captained by Jitesh Sharma, were knocked out of the tournament after facing Bangladesh A in what should have been a straightforward Super Over. The main match saw Bangladesh A post 194/6 in 20 overs, powered by opener Habibur Rahman Sohan's 65 and a fiery 48 off 18 from SM Meherob. India A responded with a blazing 50-run opening burst in just 19 deliveries, largely thanks to Suryavanshi's assault of two fours and five sixes. His wicket, however, swung the momentum back to Bangladesh's way. India A's chase came down to the last-ball, in which the side needed four runs but scored three.

In the Super Over, the management went with Jitesh Sharma and Ramandeep Singh as the two hitters, leaving Suryavanshi out. Jitesh was dismissed first ball by a perfect yorker from Ripon Mondal, and Ashutosh Sharma - who came in next - fell on the very first ball he faced. India A thus set a target of one run and Bangladesh A reached home with a wicket in hand.

Ganesh didn't hold back in his social-media blast:

"Not sending Vaibhav Suryavamshi to bat in the Super over? What are these guys smoking?

This pointed critique puts pressure on India A's management to justify their game-time decisions in critical moments.

In the post-match remarks, captain Jitesh claimed the choice was made because he, Ashutosh and Ramandeep were "good hitters at the death". He said that factored into excluding Suryavanshi from the equation.

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How Ukraine Intelligence Used AI Lover, Beer To Nearly Kill Russian Official

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) says it has uncovered a plot to poison a high-ranking Russian officer of the Ministry of Defence in an attack disguised as a gift from an online love interest.

According to the FSB, the officer narrowly avoided consuming beer that investigators say had been doctored with a British-made version of nerve agent VX, a substance capable of killing within 20 minutes. The bottles were intercepted before the officer could drink them, and a resident of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) was taken into custody.

The officer told Russian media that the chain of events began months earlier, when he met a woman named Polina on an online application. Their exchanges soon shifted to Telegram, where she regularly sent photos and videos of herself.

"She sent me photos and videos from the gym several times, all roughly the same. After a few months of our communication, she said she wanted to give me a gift, which she would deliver through a friend," he told Russian media.

The "friend" was the man now under arrest. FSB officials say he had been instructed by Ukraine's military intelligence service, the GUR, and had been promised $5,000 for delivering two packages of British beer.

Polina, investigators say, was never a real person at all but a manufactured profile created by the GUR through artificial intelligence to lure the officer into the trap.

"Based on the results of the tests on the confiscated bottles, it was established that the beer contained a mixture of highly toxic poisons, colchicine and tert-butyl bicyclophosphate (an analogue of the military-grade nerve agent VX, banned by the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention), produced in Britain, which, when consumed, causes an agonising death within 20 minutes," the FSB noted.

The "friend" contacted the officer, arranged a meeting point, and handed over the package. Within moments, FSB personnel intervened and detained him.

"I was ordered to carefully place the package on the ground. After which they explained to me that the bag contained beer, which contained a military-grade poison intended to eliminate me, and that Polina's account was used by Ukrainian intelligence officers," he said.
 

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Hate Lessons: How Kerala Mother Helped UK-Based Man Radicalise Her Teen Son

The Kerala Police FIR into the alleged ISIS indoctrination of a 15-year-old boy identifies his mother as an active participant in the effort to radicalise him, working in coordination with a UK-based ISIS supporter. The document, accessed by NDTV, sets out in detail how the minor was allegedly exposed to ISIS propaganda, instructed to hate other religions, and encouraged to adopt the terror group's ideology.

Filed under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), the FIR names two primary accused. The first, identified as Anzar, is described in the document as a member of the so-called Islamic State terror organisation, currently residing in Leicester in the United Kingdom. According to investigators, he allegedly showed the teenager graphic ISIS murder videos on his laptop and presented the group's ideology as the "greatest path of Islam". The FIR states that Anzar urged the boy to embrace ISIS as the "true path of Islam" and sought to cultivate hostility toward other religions.

The second accused is the boy's mother, Fidha Mohammed Ali, who investigators say supported and enabled the radicalisation attempt. The FIR records that she allegedly acted in coordination with Anzar. Police sources say the working assumption is that both individuals jointly influenced, guided and attempted to indoctrinate the minor.

The Kerala Police believe the case may reflect a wider network. Preliminary indications, according to sources, suggest sleeper elements linked to the terror group could be functioning in parts of the state. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has begun a preliminary inquiry and is preparing for a full takeover of the probe. Once jurisdiction shifts, the Kochi NIA office will register a fresh FIR and assume control of the investigation.

The case has further significance because of Anzar's family background. NDTV earlier reported that his brother, Siddhiqul, was convicted in the 2016 Kanakamala ISIS conspiracy case. In that case, eight individuals were charge-sheeted for allegedly plotting attacks in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Sources said that although Anzar was placed under surveillance during the 2016 investigation, he was not charged because he was living in Ukraine at the time. A retired NIA officer told NDTV that investigators may now consider alerting Interpol to facilitate Anzar's deportation.

The ongoing inquiry has also led officers to re-examine all previously listed suspects from the 2016 case to determine whether any dormant networks may have been revived. According to NIA officials, each person earlier chargesheeted or named in the Kanakamala investigation is being tracked again as part of the new assessment.

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Bengaluru Man Kills Younger Brother In Car, Dumps Body In Lake

A 24-year-old man was killed by his elder brother along with the help of two others inside a car and the body was thrown into a lake in Bengaluru, the police said.

Dhanaraj, 24, had a history of violent and criminal behaviour, and his elder brother Shivaraj, 28, was no longer able to tolerate it, the police said. Both are residents of Kalaburagi district.

Shivaraj, who drives a cab to make a living, allegedly planned the murder along with his friends Sandeep, 24, and Prashanth, 26.

The police said Dhanaraj lived with his parents in their home district. He was involved in multiple thefts, drinking, and frequent fights, the elder brother told the police.

Dhanaraj often assaulted his parents and had even attacked his elder brother when questioned about his behaviour.

Their neighbours, too, frequently complained about Dhanaraj's thefts, including stealing mobile phones and livestock.

Unable to endure continuous harassment at home, Shivaraj reportedly decided to kill his brother. On November 2, he called Dhanaraj to Bengaluru on the pretext of helping him find a job.

The three men picked him up from Bannerghatta-NICE Road in Bengaluru. Dhanaraj was in the front passenger seat. While occupied with his mobile phone, Sandeep and Prashanth allegedly grabbed him from behind. At that moment, Shivaraj struck him on the neck with a machete, killing him inside the vehicle.

They dumped the body along the Bannerghatta–Kaggalipura road and got rid of the car's floor mat and the machete near the Electronic City-NICE Road,

On November 6, the decomposed body was discovered, initially leading police to suspect an unnatural but not necessarily criminal death. However, CCTV footage from a nearby private company showed the car stopping and the body being dumped, providing crucial evidence.

Tracing the vehicle number, Bannerghatta police arrested all the three accused. A case of murder has been filed, and the accused have been sent to judicial custody.

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Sarfaraz "Not Even Being Allowed To Fail": Questions Raised On Selectors

Sarfaraz Khan's long absence from the Indian Test team has raised quite a few eyebrows. Several former players feel that the Mumbai batter, who has not played a Test since November 2024, deserves a chance in the squad. Former India player Aakash Chopra believes Sarfaraz has fallen victim to a perception battle. The 28-year-old has so far played six Tests, scoring 371 runs at an average of 37.10. He has three fifties and one century to his name.

"I think there is a clarity issue in the case of Sarfaraz. I think it is a case of perception and understanding. I am trying to think-they might have a perception that he may not do as well in swinging conditions or play fast bowling well. Maybe he is not our guy in SENA countries. So he did not get the chance. But even to make that perception, I have to allow him to fail. He is not even being allowed to fail. And now there is no place in the team as well," Chopra said on Shubhankar Mishra's YouTube channel.

The former India star also spoke about Yashasvi Jaiswal not playing T20Is for India. With Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill being the first-choice openers, Jaiswal has not found a consistent spot in the XI. He said it was unfair. In 23 T20Is, the left-hander has scored 723 runs at an average of 36.15 and a strike rate of 164.31. He has one T20I century and five fifties.

"Jaiswal is a premier player in the Indian team as well. He will be there in the ODI and T20I teams in the near future too. You can cover the sunlight with some clouds for a while, but you cannot hide it. At this point in time, it is unfair to Jaiswal, I will agree (not being in the white-ball teams). I feel he will be in the T20 World Cup squad. I don't think the team playing now is the final team," he said.

He also suggested that Jaiswal should be made captain of the Rajasthan Royals. "You cannot ask for captaincy in your state team. It is not player-centric. But a franchise will have to be player-centric at times because it is a game of supply and demand. How many like Jaiswal are available? If you can maximise that asset and need to give him captaincy to do that, I would say please do it. As long as it is clear that the team will get better by that player becoming captain, give it to them even if they demand it," Aakash Chopra said.

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