Good morning. The leader of the India-based Bishnoi gang and his alleged North American lieutenant have been charged in connection with the killing of Canadian Sikh separatist activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. More on that below, along with Carney’s Senate appointments and the end of the World Cup in Canada.

The arrests: Authorities in Canada, the United States and Europe have arrested and charged dozens of alleged members of India-based transnational crime syndicates, some of which U.S. officials said had played key roles in the 2023 slaying of Canadian Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In total, 37 defendants have been charged, including three arrested in Canada.

The allegations: A U.S. indictment alleges that Indian criminal gang leader Lawrence Bishnoi and his North American deputy Satinderjeet Singh “ordered the assassination” of Nijjar in Surrey, B.C. The document states that Bishnoi provided four unnamed co-conspirators with a photograph of Nijjar and multiple addresses.

The operation: The arrests resulted from a sweeping, multiyear U.S. federal investigation known as “Operation Hard Ball,” which probed Indian crime organizations engaged in racketeering, killings, shootings, extortion, drug trafficking and other crimes around the world.

The geopolitics: The murder of Nijjar, who was gunned down in a Sikh temple parking lot, led to a major diplomatic rift with India. Then-prime minister Justin Trudeau accused New Delhi of having played a role in the killing, while India denied any involvement. The indictment is silent on that grander theory.

The latest: In his first Senate appointments, Prime Minister Mark Carney named a Quebec Conservative, a veteran Liberal strategist and two others to fill vacancies. He also announced that Ottawa would be officially eliminating “non-partisanship” as one of the criteria for selecting candidates.

The appointees: Quebec Conservative MP Richard Martel is quitting his caucus and will be appointed to the Senate to sit as an independent. Carney also appointed Tom Pitfield, a Liberal operative who served as Carney’s principal secretary; New Brunswick physician Rodney Ouellette; and Manitoba’s Geeta Tucker, a corporate executive. Martel’s departure from the Tory caucus puts more pressure on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who has lost five MPs in the past year.

The latest: Nigel Farage, Leader of Britain’s populist Reform UK party, said he would resign as the MP for Clacton-on-Sea and run in a by-election. “I’ve decided that the people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions,” he said in a video statement.

Those actions: Farage has been under investigation by parliamentary officials over a £5-million gift he received from British billionaire investor Christopher Harborne in 2024. A recent Sunday Times report said Farage also received support from businessman George Cottrell, a long-time ally who was convicted of fraud in the U.S. Newly elected MPs must disclose any gifts or benefits they receive in the 12 months before taking office; Farage argues he followed the rules to the letter.

The latest: Nine countries have now announced their support for a new Canada-led multinational defence bank called the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank. Albania, Belgium, Greece, Latvia, Turkey and Ukraine are all backing the effort, joining Canada, Luxembourg and Romania.

What’s next: Canada has been chosen as the host country, meaning the bank’s headquarters will be here. The DSRB would provide long-term, low-cost financing for defence projects in member countries. Though Carney has been heavily campaigning for the institution in meetings with world leaders, major powers such as Germany and Britain have not agreed to back the bank so far.