Anirudh Bhattacharya is a Toronto-based commentator on North American issues, and an author. He has also worked as a journalist in New Delhi and New York spanning print, television and digital media. He tweets as @anirudhb.
Articles by Anirudh Bhattacharyya
Two Indo-Canadian academics honoured with Order of Canada
The names of Ajay Agrawal and Parminder Raina were in the list published by the office of the governor-general of Canada Mary Simon. Both have been invested (as the bestowal of the awards is described) into the Order as a Member
Updated on Jul 01, 2022 01:26 PM IST
July 1: Canada to mark 155th anniversary of its formation
Canada Day is observed on July 1 and this is the first time in two years that celebrations are expected to attract crowds since the last two years were marred by restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Published on Jul 01, 2022 11:05 AM IST
Canada extends Covid border restrictions to Sept 30
These rules also apply to travellers from India arriving in Canada and the two main vaccines used in India, Covishield and Covaxin, are both approved in Canada for travel
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 02:45 PM IST
India-Canada ties: Modi, Trudeau hold talks at G7 summit
A tweet from India’s prime minister’s office noted the two leaders ‘took stock of India-Canada friendship and discussed ways to further strengthen it across various sectors’
Updated on Jun 28, 2022 12:25 AM IST
PM Modi, Trudeau set to meet on sidelines of G7 summit
This will be first in-person meeting between the two PMs since Trudeau’s unprompted remarks in December 2020 on the farmers’ agitation which caused tensions in ties
Published on Jun 27, 2022 12:08 PM IST
2 Indo-Canadians get key portfolios in new Cabinet of Ontario province
Prabhmeet Sarkaria gets an expanded mandate for emergency management and procurement while Parm Gill will be the Minister of Red Tape Reduction
Updated on Jun 25, 2022 02:19 PM IST
Canada: Tributes paid to victims on 37th anniversary of Kanishka aircraft bombing
Flags flew at half-mast in memory of the victims at the British Columbia legislature in Victoria, as well as the cities of Winnipeg and Saskatoon. A moment of silence was observed in the House of Commons
Published on Jun 24, 2022 11:10 AM IST
Jaishankar meets Canadian counterpart on sidelines of Commonwealth summit
Jaishankar is in Kigali to attend the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which had earlier been postponed twice due to the Covid-19 pandemic
Published on Jun 23, 2022 11:33 PM IST
Yoga Day: Event in Canada to blend ancient Indian practises with Indigenous healing methods
The event recognises that both the International Day of Yoga and the National Indigenous People’s Day in Canada fall on June 21
Published on Jun 21, 2022 03:56 PM IST
Canada visa backlog: 700,000 Indians wait for their papers to be processed
The worldwide backlog has ballooned to nearly 2.4 million including 700,000 Indians, according to watchdog CIC News. The processing backlog has grown since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic
Updated on Jun 19, 2022 12:00 PM IST
Canada, India foreign secys speak, capping busy week of bilateral engagements
Canada’s deputy minister for foreign affairs Marta Morgan spoke with her Indian counterpart Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Thursday
Published on Jun 17, 2022 02:40 PM IST
Slumdog Millionaire author, noted diplomat awarded honorary degree in Canada
Vikas Swarup was recognised not just for his literary output, but also for his work as a diplomat. He was high-profile spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs before arriving in Canada in 2017 as the country’s High Commissioner to Ottawa
Published on Jun 17, 2022 02:21 PM IST
Canada lifts Covid vaccine mandates for domestic and international travel
Passengers will still be required to wear masks on board, and those travelling to Canada will continue to be subject of vaccination requirements for entry into country
Published on Jun 15, 2022 02:55 PM IST
India Chairs being set up at prominent Canadian varsities
These Chairs, to be occupied by academics from India, are being created under the auspices of partnership agreements between the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Canadian institutions
Published on Jun 14, 2022 01:12 PM IST
China focusing on ‘pattern of coercive diplomacy’: Canada defence minister
Canada’s defence minister outlined the threat environment, including Russia’s challenge to the rules-based international order and China’s increasingly assertive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, at the plenary session of Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore
Updated on Jun 14, 2022 11:18 AM IST
Canada, in a world first, proposes health warnings on individual cigarettes
Despite decades of efforts, tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of illness and premature death in Canada, killing approximately 48,000 people each year, Ottawa said in a statement
Updated on Jun 11, 2022 02:58 PM IST
Canada forms advisory committee to deliberate on new Indo-Pacific strategy
Canada “recognises that the Indo-Pacific region is critically important for the long-term prosperity, health and security of Canadians”, its foreign ministry said
Published on Jun 10, 2022 01:21 PM IST
Anirudh Bhattacharyya I Edited by Amit Chanda
Sidhu Moosewala killing: India to request Canada to expedite extradition of Goldy Brar
Goldy Brar, who arrived in Canada in 2017 as a student, allegedly claimed responsibility on behalf of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang for the murder of the popular performer and politician Sidhu Moosewala last month.
Updated on Jun 10, 2022 01:09 PM IST
Canada: Quebec blocks work permits for students at some private colleges
This closes down the pathway for international students to garner work permits after completing their courses, a necessity towards qualifying for permanent residency. It’s proven a carrot for many students from India, particularly from Punjab, in recent years
Updated on Jun 08, 2022 01:21 PM IST
Canada, India welcome progress in negotiations towards interim trade pact
The matter was discussed during a virtual meeting between Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development Mary Ng and India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday
Published on Jun 08, 2022 10:49 AM IST
Trudeau criticises Chinese jets for ‘provocative’ actions towards Canadian planes
Canada’s foreign minister Melanie Joly said on Friday the matter would be raised formally at the UN Security Council
Published on Jun 07, 2022 12:16 PM IST
Canada’s NDP leader Jagmeet Singh faces political setback
Jagmeet Singh’s younger brother was defeated in Ontario’s provincial elections from a seat in the family’s political base of Brampton in the Greater Toronto Area
Updated on Jun 03, 2022 02:18 PM IST
India flags concern over gangsters carrying out operations from Canada
India has multiple extradition requests pending with the Canadian authorities related to gangsters and terrorism.
Updated on Jun 04, 2022 12:31 AM IST
Chinese jets are ‘flying threateningly close’ to our North Korea flights on UN mission: Canada
Operation Neon is Canada’s contribution to a coordinated multinational effort to support the implementation of UN Security Council sanctions imposed against North Korea
Updated on Jun 02, 2022 02:27 PM IST
Indian, Canadian foreign ministers hold talks on Indo-Pacific, Ukraine
The conversation was described as “extensive” by Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar in a tweet. It covered several significant geopolitical issues including the Indo-Pacific and the situation in Ukraine following the attack by Russia in February
Updated on Jun 02, 2022 10:49 AM IST
Anirudh Bhattacharyya I Edited by Amit Chanda
Canada OKs drug decriminalisation test in British Columbia
The policy approved by federal officials doesn’t legalize the substances, but Canadians in the Pacific coast province who possess up to 2.5 grams of illicit drugs for personal use will not be arrested or charged
Published on Jun 01, 2022 01:17 PM IST
Canada extends Covid vaccination-related measures despite airport delays
Long queues at airports have resulted in passengers being stuck in airplanes for hours before deplaning, and facing delays lasting multiple hours before clearing customs and other formalities
Published on Jun 01, 2022 01:08 PM IST
Trudeau announces Canada handgun freeze with new law
The Canadian Government has introduced legislation that will bring in a national freeze on handguns in the country.
Updated on Jun 01, 2022 03:28 AM IST
Trudeau announces handgun freeze in new gun control proposal
The new measures are assured of passing in Canada’s Parliament as the ruling Liberals and leftist opposition New Democrats have enough votes
Updated on May 31, 2022 02:35 PM IST
Canada police shoot dead unidentified man with rifle in Toronto
Toronto police shot and injured a man who was walking down a street carrying a gun in a city neighbourhood, and five nearby schools were placed on lockdown
Updated on May 27, 2022 04:14 PM IST
