Refugee Surge, Calgary Walkability, Parking Scam, Modi at G7 and Dance Magic

Canada's now in the top 5 for refugee claims, jumping to 146,800 in 2023 from 94,000 the year before. Right behind the U.S., Germany, Egypt, and Spain! With the global refugee crisis hitting 120 million displaced people, Canada’s stepping up, welcoming thousands from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Syria, and Somalia. Despite the challenges, the UNHCR says there's hope if we all work together. 🌟(Read More)

NDP MP Niki Ashton took a fancy $17K trip to Quebec over Christmas, billing taxpayers for flights, hotels, and dining—quite the holiday treat! Critics are side-eyeing the value of this jaunt, especially since she mostly joins Parliament from home. 🤔 The NDP says it's all legit parliamentary business, but the debate over MPs' travel perks keeps simmering. 🌶️ Politics, eh?

🕵️‍♂️ Who Was Yuvraj Goyal? Yuvraj Goyal, a 28-year-old sales executive from Ludhiana, was shot dead in Surrey, Canada. He moved to Canada in 2019 and recently became a permanent resident. Coming from a modest family, Yuvraj had no criminal record. Four suspects have been charged with his murder, and investigators believe it was a targeted shooting but are still determining the motive. (Read here)

🚗 Auto Insurance Hike Limit for Good Drivers in Alberta – Too Late?

Alberta's 3.7% cap on auto insurance hikes for "good drivers" is meant to ease costs, but many won't see the benefits until 2025. Drivers like Calgarian Prabin Joshi are seeing big increases this year despite no convictions. The cap, announced last fall, depends on when insurers file rate changes, causing delays. With Alberta's drivers paying the second-highest premiums in Canada, there's skepticism about how long this cap will last amid potential system overhauls. (Read here)

Water Restoration Paused Due to Worksite Injuries! Calgary's water restoration faces delays after injuries at the repair site. Work resumed after safety clearance, but the full-service timeline remains uncertain. Water conservation remains crucial as restrictions continue. (Read here)

Calgary ranks 13th in walkability among large Canadian cities, scoring 39 out of 100 on Walk Score. Most errands in the city require a car, although efforts are being made to improve pedestrian-friendly areas, like plans to make 17th Avenue car-free next summer. (Read here)

The Calgary Parking Authority is giving a heads-up about fake parking tickets making the rounds in Calgary. They’re warning folks to keep an eye out for these phony tickets. Check out the below video which dives into what to watch for and how to avoid falling for this scam.

PM Modi made a big splash at the G7 Summit, talking about tech fairness, India's role globally, and our recent elections. He's pushing for equal access to tech, highlighting India's AI strides, fulfilling climate commitments, and spreading democracy. He's busy meeting global leaders like Macron, Sunak, Zelenskyy, and Pope Francis, discussing partnerships and extending invitations. Looks like he's diving into global stuff right from the start! (Read more)

A special Indian Air Force plane brought back the bodies of 45 Indians who passed away in the Kuwait fire tragedy. They landed in Kochi today, and Union Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh was on board. The Cochin Airport had tight security. The victims were from different Indian states, and Kuwait sent condolences. Families and officials were there to receive them. The fire in Kuwait was due to an electrical short circuit, causing a tragic loss of foreign workers' lives. (Read here)

🏏 Did you see the cricket game between Pakistan and USA? Team India H-1B totally pranked Pakistan in cricket, making everyone laugh in the immigrant community. It's like thinking you're facing the USA team and finding out it's just a bunch of Indian cricketers on work visas! 😄 From Mumbai to San Francisco, Anand to New Jersey, these players have stories that could rival a Bollywood plot. Cheers to their unexpected victory! (Read here)