The Asian Star - February 14, 2026

12-year-old shot in the head by teenage school shooter as she protected classmates during Tumbler Ridge massacre, family says

A 12-year-old caught in the shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School has been left fighting for her life after being shot while trying to protect her classmates. Maya Gebala is listed as being in “critical condition” at British Columbia’s Children’s Hospital, after being airlifted to the facility following the shooting on Tuesday. A close relative, Krysta Hunt, revealed that Maya was struck by two bullets after trying to lock a library door to keep out the shooter, who has since been identified as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar.

During her rampage, Van Rootselaar killed three female students, all aged 12, and two male students, aged 12 and 13. She also killed a 39-year-old educator, as well as a mother, 39, and an 11-year-old stepbrother.

“[Maya] tried to lock the door of the library from the shooter to save the other kids, and then she tried to lock it and then ran and hid under a table and [got shot],” Hunt told Global News. Continued on Page 10...

to pay US $29m (Rs 260 cr) to family of Indian killed by police car

The city of Seattle has reached a $29 million (Rs 260 crore) settlement with the family of a 23-year-old graduate student from India who was struck by a speeding police officer as she crossed a street in 2023.

Jaahnavi Kandula was hit by Officer Kevin Dave, who was driving as fast as 119 kmph in a 40-kmph zone as he responded to a drug overdose call. He had his emergency lights on and had been using his siren at intersections.

“Jaahnavi Kandula’s death was heartbreaking, and the city hopes this financial settlement brings some sense of closure to the Kandula family,” City Attorney Erika Evans said in a statement on Wednesday. “Jaahnavi Kandula’s life mattered. It mattered to her family, her friends and to our community.” Kandula had been working towards a master’s degree in information systems at the Seattle campus of Northeastern University.

of Punjabi Devils Motorcycle Club Stockton pleads guilty to unlawfully dealing in firearms

Jashanpreet Singh, 27, of Lodi, pleaded guilty today to unlawfully dealing firearms and unlawfully possessing a machine gun, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

According to court documents, Singh was the founder of the “Punjabi Devils” Motorcycle Club, a Stockton-based outlaw motorcycle

gang associated with the Hells Angels.

On June 6, 2025, Singh attempted to sell several weapons to an undercover officer, including a short-barreled rifle, three assault weapons, three machine gun conversion devices, and a revolver. A search of Singh’s residence resulted in the discovery of additional firearms, including a machine gun, another machine gun conversion device, and a silencer.

Officers also discovered a single “pineapple”style capped and fused hand grenade, as well as what law enforcement believed was a military electronic capped “claymore” mine.

Continued on Page 7...

Abbotsford's police chief is urging residents who've been targeted with extortion to come forward.

He also says that recent criticism of police responses to extortion show an "incomplete understanding" of what's happening.

At a press conference Tuesday, Chief Const. Colin Watson said he's heard from community members who know people that have not reported the incidents to police. "Abbotsford Police Department wants to hear from you," he said.

Watson said he understands that receiving an extortion threat can be "overwhelming," and said the department is working to build trust with community members so that more people feel comfortable reporting to police. Continued on Page 10...

Political leaders from around the world are expressing their condolences following the mass school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., that left eight people dead, as well as the shooter, and 27 injured.

Continued on Page 7...

The names of the six children and two adults who died on Tuesday were released by RCMP this afternoon.

Victims found inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School:

Zoey Benoit, 12, a student. In a statement, her loved ones described her as "resilient, vibrant, smart, caring and the strongest little girl you could meet."

Ticaria Lampert, 12, a student. Her mother Sarah described her daughter in an interview as a "tiki torch powered by love and happiness."

Abel Mwansa, 12, a student. His father told CBC News he was a bright, ambitious boy with a smile everybody knew in town.

Ezekiel Schofield, 13, a student. Kylie Smith, 12, a student. In a statement, her family said she was a talented artist who dreamed of one day studying in Toronto.

Shannda Aviugana-Durand, 39, an educator. Her family declined to comment, but one student said she and other staff at the high school were heroes.

Victims found inside the home on Fellers Avenue:

Emmett Jacobs, 11, the step-brother of the shooter.

Jennifer Strang, 39, the mother of the shooter. Police identified her using her legal name, Jennifer Jacobs.

ICBC/Personal

Immigration

As the British Columbia community of Tumbler Ridge reels from a devastating mass shooting, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on Wednesday revealed new details about the shooter.

Eight people were killed in the shooting with roughly 25 others injured. The shooter was also found deceased from what is believed to be a selfinflicted wound.

RCMP had originally said nine people, as well as the shooter, were dead, but adjusted that count on Wednesday afternoon.

There are few details available so far about the victims of this tragedy.

The RCMP identified the shooter as 18-year-old female Jesse Van Rootselaar, who was a resident of Tumbler Ridge.

“We do believe the suspect acted alone. And there are currently no other outstanding suspects,” B.C. RCMP Dept. Comm. Dwayne McDonald told reporters Wednesday. The shooter attended the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School but dropped out four years ago, he added.

approximately a couple years ago where firearms were seized under the Criminal Code,” he said.

He said police had previously found firearms secured in a safe at her residence investigators are “yet to determine if they’ve gone in and located more firearms.” No criminal charges were laid in relation to the firearms and the lawful owner of the

firearms petitioned for them to be returned.

Rootselaar had a history of mental health issues, McDonald said, adding that police had been called to the individual’s family home because of mental health concerns before.

“Police had attended that residence on multiple occasions over the past several years. Dealing with concerns of mental health with respect to our suspect. I can say that on different occasions a suspect was apprehended for assessment and and follow-up,” McDonald said.

Some of those cases involved the individual being apprehended under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital, he said, adding: “I don’t have that information at this time if the suspect was currently receiving care.”

“Police have attended that residence in the past

McDonald said that Rootselaar identified as female and began transitioning around six years ago.

“We identified the suspect as they chose to be identified in public and in social media,” he said.

“I can say that Jesse was born as a biological male who approximately — the information that I have — approximately six years ago began to transition to female and identified as female both socially and publicly.“

Rootselaar had a gun licence that expired in 2024, he added. “She did not have any firearms registered to her,” McDonald said.

He added that he believed the last contact police had with the shooter was “some time last year.”

There is no indication of the shooter experiencing bullying at the school at this time, McDonald added when asked by reporters.

B.C.’s Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General says people across the province are standing with the small community of Tumbler Ridge.

“The people of Tumbler Ridge remain in a state of crisis following one of the worst mass shootings in our province’s and country’s history,” Nina Krieger said.

“This is a devastating day for close knit community, and the loss being felt is profound. There are truly no words.” On Tuesday, nine people were killed in the community in northeastern B.C. in a mass shooting. The suspected shooter was found dead, two people were seriously injured and 25 others were injured.

The community of 2,000 people was placed under lockdown around 1:20 p.m. after news came in of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, RCMP said.

When officers entered the school on Tuesday afternoon, they found six victims dead, RCMP confirmed. Two more victims were found at another location. An individual believed to be the shooter was also found dead with what appeared to be a self-inflicted injury.

“I would like to thank the RCMP officers who were on the scene within two minutes of receiving the call,” Krieger said.

“That speed and professionalism saved lives today. I would also like to thank paramedics, firefighters, health care workers, victim services staff and all first responders who acted immediately to support this community in an unimaginable, unimaginably horrific moment.”

Students were locked down at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and Elementary School, which will remain closed for the rest of the week, the district confirmed.

As a mother, I’m holding the families who lost loved ones close in my heart, as well as the many of those injured,” Krieger added.

“For their families, the nightmare has not yet ended. We will stand with the community in the days and weeks and months ahead, with compassion, with action, and with a commitment to supporting healing for as long as it takes. We will ensure that every possible support is available for the community in the coming days.”

B.C. Premier David Eby also said on Tuesday night that this is a devastating and unimaginable tragedy.

“We can’t imagine what the community is going through, but I know it’s causing us all to hug our kids a little bit tighter tonight,” he said.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to ask British Columbians, to ask all Canadians to wrap the people of Tumbler Ridge, wrap these families with love, not just tonight, but tomorrow and into the future. This is something that will reverberate for years to come. As British Columbians, I know that one of the things we do best is look after each other. And I’m asking British Columbians to look after the people of Tumbler Ridge tonight.”

Tuesday’s shooting was the deadliest attack connected to a Canadian school in nearly 40 years.

More than two dozen people were shot during the Ecole Polytechnique massacre in Montreal on Dec. 6, 1989, killing 14 women before the gunman took his own life.

The last time such deadly violence was carried out against multiple people in the halls of a Canadian school was a decade ago in northern Saskatchewan.

On Jan. 22, 2016, four people were killed and seven others injured in a shooting spree in the remote Dene community of La Loche.

Eby

says 2,000

public service jobs cut and counting as BC faces $11.2B deficit

Premier David Eby says public service jobs that don’t support the front-line delivery of services to British Columbians will continue to be targeted as his government prepares to unveil its 2026 budget a week from now.

“There's no question we have to reduce the size of the public sector generally in British Columbia,” he said on Monday at an unrelated news conference in North Vancouver.

“We're facing significant budget pressures as we transition into the new economy that Canada is building right now.”

The province has projected a $11.2-billion deficit for this fiscal year, ending March 31, as government revenues lag over the end of the carbon tax program, lower property transfer taxes amid a cooling housing market, and other economic uncertainties.

A year ago, the NDP government launched an expenditure management and efficiency review to try and find savings, under which Eby said some 2,000 public sector jobs have been eliminated so far. He said there will be more cuts of this kind reflected in the 2026 budget, but the government is committed to keeping services levels in health care and education high.

“There is room for us to reduce bureaucracy and administration while protecting the core front-line

services for British Columbians," he said.

The province says on its website that as of April 1, 2025, there were more than 593,000 people working across the provincial public sector, including in core public services, Crown corporations, health, community and social services, and education.

A 2025 analysis by the Business Council of British Columbia, which used Statistics Canada data, shows the number of public sector jobs in B.C. — including municipal, provincial and federal roles — jumped during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It shows B.C. had 134,000 more public sector employees, across all levels of government, in 2025 than was predicted by pre-pandemic trends.

The province and provincial employers spend about $53.2 billion on total compensation for B.C. public sector workers, equivalent to nearly 60 per cent of the province's budget.

The provincial government is working to grow revenues through resource projects in concert with a federal push to do the same.

Eby said on Monday that the province had secured $3 billion in mining investment commitments over the past 30 days, with up to $40 billion expected by the end of 2026. In the province’s November quarterly report, Finance Minister Brenda Bailey projected a slight bump in revenues, but said the budget could be strained by spending on capital projects and a negotiated deal with the B.C. General Employees’ Union.

The Official Opposition has been critical of the NDP’s handling of the economy, saying high debt levels and deficit budgets will continue despite Eby’s promises to get a handle on them.

“The money is gone, the jobs are gone, and private sector potential is fleeing,” said Gavin Dew, MLA for Kelowna-Mission and Conservative critic for jobs, economic development, innovation and AI in a release last week.

Prime Minister Carney, other federal leaders to attend vigil in Tumbler Ridge on Friday

Prime Minister Mark Carney and other federal party leaders will travel to Tumbler Ridge, B.C., to attend a vigil commemorating the victims of Tuesday's shooting. The small community is still reeling from the shooting that left nine dead and more than 25 injured in one of the worst mass killings in Canadian history. Carney was invited to attend Friday's vigil by Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, NDP interim Leader Don Davies and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May are all expected to attend. The House of Commons put its usual proceedings on pause on Wednesday.

Following a moment of silence, party leaders made somber statements in the House chamber during the time that is typically reserved for question period. Instead of the usual heckles and cheers from each side of the aisle, the nearly full chamber was largely silent as leaders paid tribute to the victims and first responders.

Carney said the violence has "left our nation in shock" and his thoughts are with the parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters of those who were taken in a series of horrific events Tuesday in the small mining town in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

"To those families who have lost loved ones: we mourn with you. To those recovering from their injuries: we are praying for you," Carney said.

Misinformation about trans people floods social media in wake of BC mass shooting

As news broke and details emerged of Tuesday’s mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., Dee McWatters says her heart sank. She was thinking about the victims, their families, as well as the transgender community.

“It was like, ‘oh no, people are going to use this to weaponize hate … and use it as an excuse against the transgender community,’” said McWatters, who herself is a transgender woman that lives in southern B.C.

Even before the shooter’s identity was confirmed by police, speculation about their gender identify spread across social media. Independent B.C. MLA Tara Armstrong posted on X, saying “there is an epidemic of transgender violence spreading across the West.”

The post goes on to say: “this epidemic of violence will continue until we change our society’s response to transgender ideology.”

Many groups have come out against the MLA’s comments, including the Kelowna Pride Society.

“Let us be clear: violence is not caused by gender identity or trans identities,” the group wrote in a statement. “Attempts to weaponize tragedy to target trans, non-binary and two-spirit people are harmful, inaccurate and unacceptable.”

Elon Musk also shared a number of tweets to his 234 million followers on X, claiming that trans people are more likely to carry out mass violence.

Like many members of the trans community, McWatters worries these comments will lead to even further stigmatization and marginalization.

“This is a mental-health issue. This has nothing to do with gender,” she said.

RCMP say police had visited the shooter’s home multiple times in the last few years because of her mental health issues. Investigators have not provided a motive in what led the 18-year-old to carry out one of the worst mass shootings in Canadian history. Statistics show that most mass

shootings are carried out by cisgender men, and that mass shooters who identify as trans are rare.

“I think it’s a product of the information environment that we’re in,” said James Densley, co-founder of The Violence Prevention Project, which tracks mass shootings in the United States. “When a shooter is transgender, that becomes the headline and that becomes the story.”

A mass shooting is defined by The Violence Prevention Project as “four or more people shot and killed, excluding the shooter, in a public location, with no connection to underlying criminal activity, such as gangs or drugs.”

According to Densley, there is just one in their database involving a shooter that identified as transgender: a school shooting in Nashville, Tenn., in 2023. Densley says linking trans identity with violence is an extension of how the trans community is demonized.

“There’s been a lot of conversations about transgender people’s role in society, their access to care … their access to bathrooms, their access to sports,” he said. “This is an extension of that.”

Densley says by demonizing one group, it means harder conversations about things like mental health and access to guns can be avoided.

“We’re trying to find a scapegoat, we’re trying to find a conversation starter around this … so that you don’t have to talk about some of the more challenging issues, particularly on the right, that they might not want to talk about,” he said.

B.C. human rights commissioner Kasari Govender also weighed in on the rhetoric, calling it “dangerous.”

“I am disappointed by the anti-trans disinformation and the hateful narratives that are being spread,” Govender said Thursday. “Using this horrific incident to conflate trans identities with violent tendencies is incorrect, irresponsible and frankly dangerous.”

Coquitlam Mountie fired over vulgar messages in group chats

A police conduct adjudicator fired a B.C. RCMP officer with immediate effect on Wednesday, saying his conduct was “too egregious” to justify allowing him to remain a member of the force.

Louise Morel said Coquitlam RCMP Const. Philip Dick’s actions amounted to discreditable conduct, finding he “abandoned several of the essential core values of the force.”

“Constable Dick took an oath to serve and protect the public,” said Morel. “He put aside that oath to degrade members of the public, vulnerable persons and colleagues.” Dick is one of three officers from the Coquitlam detachment who faced code of conduct proceedings over sexist, racist and harassing comments made in a group chat on the encrypted messaging app Signal, as well as over police mobile data terminals.

Solven was the first of the three to be disciplined. In December, he was given the option to resign within 14 days or be terminated. He is no longer with the force. Mesbah was fired last month.

During a hearing last week, Dick said he has undergone cognitive behavioural therapy and recommitted to his religious faith since being suspended.

His lawyer Anita Atwal argued he should be allowed to remain an officer and said a significant financial penalty would be appropriate. Morel said that while she believed Dick was unlikely to reoffend, strong deterrence was needed to prevent others from committing similar misconduct in the future.

He, along with Constables Ian Solven and Mersad Mesbah, had been suspended with pay since 2021, when the allegations were brought forward to senior members of the Coquitlam detachment.

“Police officers hold an elevated position in the community, and as such there is a higher expectation placed on them,” said Morel. “Constable Dick has failed in his responsibilities to avoid behaviour on or off duty that may bring the RCMP into disrepute or damage the relationship or trust and confidence between the police and the public.”

RCMP release dash cam video after hit-and-run seriously injures wheelchair user in North Vancouver

Dash cam video has been released as North Vancouver RCMP investigate a hit-and-run that seriously injured a pedestrian in a wheelchair last week. In a news release Thursday, investigators said they’re hoping people will come forward with more surveillance and dash cam video to help advance the investigation.

The incident unfolded at the intersection of West 3rd Street and Bewicke Avenue just after 8 p.m. on Feb. 5. Mounties said it’s believed that a person in a wheelchair was crossing West 3rd Street in the crosswalk, when a vehicle making a left turn struck

them and then fled the scene.

The pedestrian suffered serious, but non-lifethreatening injuries and was taken to hospital where they are expected to recover, RCMP said. Mounties described the suspect vehicle as a grey sedan. “Police are releasing dash-cam video of the incident in hopes that further witnesses with critical information will come forward,” Cpl. Mansoor Sahak said in the release. “We are also asking the driver to do the right thing and come forward. It will help investigators gain a clearer understanding of what occurred.”

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The U.S.–India trade reset is really a bet on geoeconomic alignment

By: Dr. Nitish Kumar Arya

The United States and India have agreed on a framework for an Interim Trade Agreement aimed at establishing reciprocal and mutually beneficial market access. Beyond its immediate provisions, the framework reaffirms both governments’ commitment to the broader U.S.–India Bilateral Trade Agreement negotiations launched in February 2026 by President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Crucially, the Interim Agreement is positioned not as an end in itself, but as a stepping stone toward deeper economic integration—one that expands market access while embedding trade policy within a wider agenda of supply-chain resilience and strategic economic cooperation.

When the United States and India released their Joint Statement in February 2026, it was framed— predictably—as a breakthrough on trade. Tariffs would fall, market access would expand, and bilateral commerce would grow. Yet to read the agreement merely as a trade deal is to miss its deeper significance. This is not just about exports and imports. It is about where India intends to locate itself in an increasingly fragmented global economy.

At a moment when global trade is being reshaped by geopolitics rather than efficiency alone, the U.S.–India Interim Agreement represents a deliberate choice. India is wagering that closer economic alignment with the United States—across supply chains, technology, energy, and standards—will accelerate growth and resilience, even if it constrains policy autonomy and imposes uneven domestic adjustment costs.

The headline elements of the agreement are substantial. India has committed to reducing or eliminating tariffs on a wide range of U.S. industrial and agricultural products. In return, the United States has offered conditional and phased tariff relief on key Indian exports, including generic pharmaceuticals, gems and diamonds, and aircraft parts. India has also signaled its intention to purchase $500 billion worth of U.S. energy, aircraft, technology products, and other goods over the next five years.

But the more consequential provisions sit beneath the tariff schedules. The agreement places heavy emphasis on non-tariff barriers, rules of origin,

standards alignment, conformity assessment, and digital trade rules. It also explicitly links trade policy to economic security, supply-chain resilience, export controls, and investment screening. This is trade policy redesigned for a world of strategic rivalry.

In that sense, the Joint Statement formalizes a shift already underway. The U.S.–India relationship is moving from episodic trade bargaining toward sustained economic alignment—one that mirrors broader U.S. efforts to build “trusted partner” supply chains outside China.

For India’s manufacturing exporters, the agreement creates real opportunities. Sectors such as pharmaceuticals, gems and jewelry, aircraft components, and select machinery stand to benefit from improved access to the U.S. market. Tariff relief and preferential treatment could reinforce India’s position as a reliable supplier in high-value, regulation-sensitive industries.

Yet these gains come with a price. The agreement’s

insistence on rules of origin, standards harmonization, and regulatory compliance raises fixed costs. Large, capitalized firms are well positioned to absorb these requirements. Smaller manufacturers and MSMEs are not. The result is likely to be a familiar pattern: export growth driven by scale, formalization, and consolidation.

This is not necessarily a flaw. Indeed, it aligns with India’s long-standing ambition to move up the manufacturing value chain. But it does mark a departure from low-cost, lightly regulated export strategies. Growth under this framework will be more compliance-intensive—and more selective.

If manufacturing captures the upside, agriculture bears much of the adjustment burden. India’s tariff concessions on U.S. food and agricultural products— from soybean oil to tree nuts and spirits—will intensify competition in politically sensitive markets. For small farmers and domestic producers, the shortterm pressures are real.

House votes to slap back Trump’s tariffs on Canada in rare bipartisan rebuke

The House voted Wednesday to slap back President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada, a rare if largely symbolic rebuke of the White House agenda as Republicans joined Democrats over the objections of GOP leadership.

The tally, 219-211, was among the first times the House, controlled by Republicans, has confronted the president over a signature policy, and drew instant recrimination from Trump himself. The resolution seeks to end the national emergency Trump declared to impose the tariffs, though actually undoing the policy would require support from the president, which is highly unlikely. It next goes to the Senate.

Trump believes in the power of tariffs to force U.S. trade partners to the negotiating table. But lawmakers are facing unrest back home from businesses caught in the trade wars and constituents navigating pocketbook issues and high prices.

“Today’s vote is simple, very simple: Will you vote to lower the cost of living for the American family or will you keep prices high out of loyalty to one person -- Donald J. Trump?” said Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who authored the resolution. Within minutes, as the gavel struck, Trump fired off a stern warning to those in the Republican Party who would dare to cross him.

“Any Republican, in the House or the Senate, that votes against TARIFFS will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time, and that includes Primaries!” the president posted on social media.

The high-stakes moment provides a snapshot of the House’s unease with the president’s direction, especially ahead of the midterm elections as economic issues resonate among voters. The Senate has already voted to reject Trump’s tariffs on Canada and other countries in a show of displeasure. But both chambers would have to approve the tariff rollbacks, and send the resolution to Trump for the president’s signature — or veto.

Republicans voted for the resolution, and one Democrat voted against it.

From Canada, Ontario, Premier Doug Ford on social media called the vote “an important victory with more work ahead.” He thanked lawmakers

from both parties “who stood up in support of free trade and economic growth between our two great countries. Let’s end the tariffs and together build a more prosperous and secure future.”

Johnson insisted lawmakers wait for a pending Supreme Court ruling in a lawsuit about the tariffs. He engineered a complicated rules change to prevent floor action. But Johnson’s strategy collapsed late Tuesday, as Republicans peeled off during a procedural vote to ensure the Democratic measure was able to advance.

“The president’s trade policies have been of great benefit,” Johnson, R-La., had said. “And I think the sentiment is that we allow a little more runway for this to be worked out between the executive branch and the judicial branch.”

Late Tuesday evening, Johnson could be seen speaking to holdout Republican lawmakers as the GOP leadership team struggled to shore up support during a lengthy procedural vote, but the numbers lined up against him.

“We’re disappointed,” Kevin Hassett, the director of the White House’s National Economic Council, told reporters at the White House on Wednesday morning. “The president will make sure they don’t repeal his tariffs.” The resolution put forward by Meeks would terminate the national emergency that Trump declared a year ago as one of his executive orders.

The administration claimed illicit drug flow from Canada constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat that allows the president to slap tariffs on imported goods outside the terms of the U.S.Mexico-Canada trade agreement.

The Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Brian Mast of Florida, said the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. is a dire national emergency and the policy must be left in place.

The Conservative MP who went public with his intent to refuse a pending parliamentary pay increase was called out by the party whip in front of his colleagues and heckled as he tried to defend his decision, CBC News has learned.

In a letter to the House of Commons clerk that was made public Tuesday, New Brunswick Conservative MP Mike Dawson said he wanted his pay frozen because he couldn't in good conscience accept an increase while many working people are struggling to get by.

"It's frankly distasteful that parliamentarians are set to receive a raise while the working man (and woman) in this country hasn't seen a decent raise in decades," Dawson wrote.

That letter has not gone over well with some of his fellow Conservative MPs, who are now facing uncomfortable questions from their own constituents about why they are willing to accept a roughly $10,000 salary increase set to take effect in April. Backbench MPs are currently paid $209,800 with committee chairs, ministers, the prime minister, the Speaker and his deputies, among other officeholders, entitled to additional remuneration.

The party's whip, MP Chris Warkentin, called Dawson out from the front of the room during a caucus meeting on Wednesday, multiple caucus sources told CBC News.

Warkentin told Dawson that the scheduled pay bump is set out in law and he's legally required to

take it, sources said. The Parliament of Canada Act sets MP salaries or "sessional allowances," as they're called in the legislation, and includes a provision that increases them every year using a complex formula based on pay increases in the private sector. It's not clear how Dawson could refuse this statutory increase; he could, like other MPs have done in the past, simply donate a portion of his higher salary to charity. Dawson was standing at the microphone used by MPs to speak to the leader, whip and other caucus leaders while he was being dressed down by Warkentin, one caucus source said.

When it was his chance to speak, some MPs, between six or eight of them, started to heckle him and he abruptly left the meeting, sources said. Reached by phone Thursday morning, Dawson confirmed there was a dust up.

Warkentin "didn't like that I did it" and "called me out in front of the caucus," Dawson told CBC News. The MP said the party whip told him "I should've done it a different way, I guess. But I disagree," Dawson said.

"It's my money. If the rest of caucus didn't want to do it, I didn't ask the rest of caucus to do it.

"I didn't ask the rest of caucus to give the money back but maybe they should. It's pretty rich and hypocritical to get up on the floor of the House of Commons and talk about the cost of living and then criticize me for wanting to give my money back," Dawson said.

Tumbler Ridge mass shooting highlights lack of mental-health supports in remote B.C. communities

The school shooting in Tumbler Ridge on Tuesday that claimed eight lives, including those of six children, has drawn attention to the need for better resources to deal with mental health in rural and northern communities.

The 18-year-old shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, who took her own life, had had multiple interactions with police over her life, including a mental wellness check last spring in relation to self-harm concerns. Police say the transgender teen had dropped out of school four years ago and about six years ago had begun transitioning, identifying as a female both socially and online.

There is often a shortage of mental-health resources in communities like Tumbler Ridge and not everyone has a family doctor that can get the process started for them, says Jonny Morris, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association B.C. Division.

“We don’t have a universal standard of access to care, and rural and remote communities are often disproportionately impacted by a lack of inperson mental health and substance-use care,” said Morris.

“There have been movements in and around virtual care, of course, but in-person care is different, and so I would say there are communities like Tumbler Ridge across British Columbia and elsewhere in Canada that don’t have the same level of required resourcing for counselling, psychiatry, psychology, school counselling.”

The District of Tumbler Ridge has been warning about a lack of mental-health supports for residents of the community for years, with mentalhealth care serving as a major topic of discussion in the last municipal election in 2022. Speaking alongside Premier David Eby on Wednesday evening, Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka said the community is struggling with ensuring it has the supports that its residents need. Krakowka said his community is already short doctors and is set to lose another family physician in March, putting them down to one full-time family doctor.

He also said the community doesn’t have enough mental-health supports and that it needs more counsellors to move to the community to support residents.

“It is one thing that we know as elected officials within our community that we are short on is mental-health counselling,” he said. “Not everybody wants to do Zoom, and sometimes it’s with a different mental-health crisis counsellor, and it needs to be the same individual. I understand the world is short on doctors and nurses, but also those specialties when it comes to counsellors.

“But again, you’ve all been in this community. To me, it’s God’s paradise. We’ve had a tragedy, but it’s God’s paradise to me, I can’t see why a doctor or nurse or counsellor wouldn’t want to move here.”

“When something like this happens, it’s really, really important that we know that we don’t have to handle it alone.”

Founder of Punjabi Devils Motorcycle Club Stockton pleads guilty to unlawfully dealing in firearms

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The Explosives Ordinance Detail of the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department bomb team destroyed these items at the scene. Singh initially faced state charges in San Joaquin County related to these offenses. On July 21, 2025, he failed to appear in court, and the state court issued a bench warrant for his arrest. On July 23, 2025, the FBI received an alert from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection that Singh had booked a ticket to India and was scheduled to depart from the San Francisco International Airport on July 26, 2025. On that date, officers located and arrested Singh at the airport before he could flee. Singh remains in federal custody. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Enforcement and Removal Operations; Homeland Security Investigations; the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office; the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office Explosive Ordinance Detail; the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations

Unit; the Stockton Police Department; and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex Cárdenas and Adrian Kinsella are prosecuting the case.

Singh is scheduled to be sentenced on May 11, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd. For his conviction for unlawfully dealing in firearms, Singh faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

For his conviction for unlawfully possessing a machine gun, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

World leaders react to ‘senseless’ Tumbler Ridge shooting

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says flags on federal buildings will be flown at halfmast for seven days to honour the victims of the shooting.

“Parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, are waking up this morning, without one of their loved ones. It is a difficult time. Canada is grieving, grieving with you,” Carney said in a media scrum outside the Liberal caucus on Wednesday morning.

“We will get through this, we will learn from this, but right now, it’s the time to come together as Canadians always do in these situations.”

The prime minister also said he has heard from numerous world leaders following the tragedy with “solidarity and compassion.”

“Our hearts and prayers are with the community of Tumbler Ridge and all of British Columbia today. My personal prayer is that in these difficult times, they find the peace and comfort that only He can provide,” Hoekstra posted to X.

King Charles III

A statement posted to X on behalf of King Charles III said he and Queen Camilla were profoundly shocked and saddened to learn of the attack and expressed their “deepest possible sympathy” to those grieving the loss of their loved ones.

“In such a closely connected town, every child’s name will be known and every family will be a neighbor,” he said.

“We can only begin to imagine the appalling shadow that has now descended across Tumbler Ridge and our hearts go out to all those whose lives have been shattered by this senseless act of brutal violence.”

The King also thanked the police and staff at the

town’s health centre.

President of France Emmanuel Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X that “horror has struck a school in Tumbler Ridge, Canada.”

“Our thoughts are with the families of the victims, the injured, and the entire educational community. France stands alongside the Canadian people,” he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy posted on X that he is “shocked” by the news.

“We are shocked by the news of the shooting at a school in Tumbler Ridge, Canada. When children are killed, no one should remain indifferent. Such tragedies should never happen anywhere, in any country in the world. We hope that all those who were injured will recover quickly,” he wrote.

“On behalf of all Ukrainians, I express our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones, to all Canadians, and to Prime Minister Mark Carney.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his condolences in a post on X.

“Deeply shocked by the horrendous shooting in Canada,” Modi wrote. “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. India stands in solidarity with the people of Canada in this moment of profound grief.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he sends “my sincere condolences to all Canadians impacted by this horrific event.”

“I am deeply shocked and saddened to hear about the tragic attack in Tumbler Ridge secondary school,” his post on X reads.

Man caught trying to smuggle 314 kilograms of meth into BC from USA

Canadian border guards caught a man trying to smuggle 314 kilograms of methamphetamine from the United States at B.C.’s AbbotsfordHuntingdon crossing, according to a statement from the Canadian Border Services Agency.

The controlled drugs were seized when a foreign national attempted to cross into Canada with a commercial vehicle.

The man was arrested, transferred to RCMP, and CBSA says he was charged with the possession of drugs for the purposes of import and trafficking.

CBSA announced the seizure on Tuesday in a news release, although it says the incident happened on November 22, 2025.

"Border services officers examined a commercial vehicle returning to Canada from the United States," reads the statement.

"With the support of the CBSA Detector Dog Team, officers detected 12 boxes containing 314 kg of methamphetamine concealed within the truck and trailer," it continues.

According to the B.C. Centre on Substance Use, that could be worth more than $18 million in

estimated street value in B.C.

The seizure represents the largest narcotics seizure to date at that crossing, according to the agency's data.

In 2025, President Donald Trump railed against Canada over illegal drugs going south into the United States. However, data has shown that the amount of drugs coming north from the U.S. has increased over the last few years.

In fact, when looking at weight alone, Canadian officials seized more illegal drugs coming from the U.S. in 2024 than what the Americans captured on their side of the 49th parallel.

Vernon high school teacher allowed students to cheat on literacy assessment: regulator

A Vernon, B.C., high school teacher has had her teaching certificate suspended for five days after allowing students to cheat on a literacy assessment, a regulator has found.

Tasha Dawn Whitney was fired from her job at School District 22 in September 2024, after the cheating incident in June of that year came to light.

According to a consent agreement posted by the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation earlier this week, Whitney allowed a student to complete another student's required literacy assessment and lied about it to the school's principal afterwards.

Further, she allowed the student — called Student B in the decision — to use a cellphone during the test, according to the agreement. "By actively assisting students to cheat, and by lying throughout the [school district's] investigation, Whitney failed to act ethically and failed to role model appropriate behaviour to the students," the regulator said in the decision.

The consent agreement states that Whitney was texting with an unnamed student, called Student A in the decision, and they said that they wanted someone else to write their required Grade 12 literacy assessment for them.

Student B was listed as one of three potential

students by Whitney, according to the decision, and the teacher ended up being the invigilator for the assessment.

Despite the students only being allowed one computer and unique login information for their own assessments, the commissioner found that Student B was allowed two laptops and a cellphone.

As Student B completed both Student A's assessment and their own, Whitney reportedly told another teacher that the reason they had two laptops open was because they were completing their Grade 10 and Grade 12 assessments — something the commissioner says she knew wasn't true.

"The [principal] ... noticed that Student A was listed as having completed the Assessment on June 13, but they knew Student A was not at [school] that day," the decision states.

Charges laid after multi-city probe into theft of 14 semi-trailers worth over $1M, Surrey police say

A man is facing several charges following a 15-month investigation by the Surrey Police Service into the theft of more than a dozen semitrailers worth over $1 million.

In a news release Thursday, police said the investigation began in December 2024, when officers received a report that 14 semi-trailers had been stolen from a dealer in Surrey. Police said the investigation spanned multiple cities, including Surrey, Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Calgary. It also led to reports of additional

stolen trailers in other cities.

The Surrey Police Service’s Prolific Offender Unit identified a suspect and executed multiple search warrants at properties in Surrey and Chilliwack.

A number of tools, semi-trailers and other vehicles were seized at the properties.

On Jan. 28, the B.C. Prosecution Service approved the following charges against 42-year-old Amandeep Singh Dhaliwal:

- Nine counts of possession of stolen property in excess of $5,000;

- Five counts of possession of stolen property not in excess of $5,000;

- Six counts of altering, removing or obliterating a vehicle identification number on a motor vehicle, without lawful excuse Dhaliwal was taken into custody Wednesday and has since been released on bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 18 in Surrey provincial court.

2 pedestrians killed in separate Surrey crashes 13 hours apart,

Police in Surrey are investigating after two pedestrians—an 81-year-old woman and a 45-year-old woman—were killed in separate crashes about 13 hours apart.

The first collision occurred in the city’s Whalley neighbourhood at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, when a vehicle travelling eastbound in the 13800 block of 102 Avenue struck a senior pedestrian.

The Surrey Police Service said despite lifesaving measures, the woman succumbed to her injuries. The driver remained at the scene and is co-operating with the investigation.

Authorities added that it does not appear that speed or impairment were contributing factors in

police say

the crash. Police were called to a second collision involving a pedestrian just after 7:30 a.m. on Thursday.

A 45-year-old woman was struck by a vehicle in the 10400 block of 132 Street. Despite life-saving measures, the woman died from her injuries. Investigators said the driver remained on scene and is co-operating with them.

While the investigation is still in its early stages, police do not currently believe that impairment was a factor in the crash.

Anyone with information or dash cam video from either collision is asked to call the Surrey Police Service at 604-599-0502.

Trump says he will block

US-Canada Bridge unless Canada negotiates on trade

President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to prevent the opening of a bridge that will connect Michigan and Canada unless Ottawa negotiates with Washington on tariffs and the exclusion of American products.

In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump accused Canada of taking advantage of the United States with unfair trade practices and cozying up to China.

With all that we have given them, we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset," he added.

He cited the removal of U.S. alcohol products from Canadian liquor store shelves in Ontario.

Trump has previously accused Canada of taking advantage of U.S. trade policies. In his post, Trump said Canada has moved forward with building the bridge with "virtually no U.S. content." He blamed former President Barack Obama for "stupidly" giving Canada a waiver so they could get around the Buy American Act, which mandates federal agencies purchase materials that are manufactured in the U.S. and made mostly from U.S.produced components.

In an effort to bring Canada to the negotiating table, Trump said he would not allow the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which is named after the legendary Canadian ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings. The bridge, which is currently under construction, will connect Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.

"I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve," Trump wrote.

"We will start negotiations, IMMEDIATELY.

Trump accused Canada of not using American products, including steel.

"Now, the Canadian Government expects me, as President of the United States, to PERMIT them to just ‘take advantage of America!’ What does the United States of America get — Absolutely NOTHING!" he wrote. "Ontario won't even put U.S. spirits, beverages, and other alcoholic products, on their shelves, they are absolutely prohibited from doing so and now, on top of everything else, Prime Minister Carney wants to make a deal with China — which will eat Canada alive. We’ll just get the leftovers! I don't think so." By cozying up to China, Canada would be risking its national sport: ice hockey, Trump said.

"The first thing China will do is terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup," he said.

12-year-old shot

in the head by teenage school shooter as she protected classmates during Tumbler Ridge massacre, family says

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The youngster was hit by a bullet just above her left eye, with a second bullet hitting her in the neck.

Medics were alerted to Maya’s condition by her friends, who noticed that her finger was still moving even after being shot. From there, she was rushed to the hospital.

“She’s in extreme critical condition,” Hunt said, adding that doctors were not even sure if Maya would survive through Tuesday night and that she had suffered a bleed on her brain.

“They are not sure if the bullet in her neck went all the way through or not, or if it’s still internal, but they’re leaving it for now to focus on her head,” she continued.

Hunt launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Maya and her mother, Cia. Money raised through the campaign will be used to fund Maya’s recovery and to help her mother support her throughout it. The campaign page features a heartbreaking note from Cia, written from the children’s hospital in Vancouver.

“Today started as any other,” Cia wrote. “Now, however, my 12 year old daughter is fighting for her life while they try to repair the damage from a gun shot wound to the head. And one to the neck..”

“She was a lucky one, I suppose,” Cia continues. “Condolences to the other families during this tragedy.

“This doesnt even feel real. I never thought I would be asking for prayers.. but please please, pray for my baby.”

In a post on her Facebook page, Cia paid tribute to her daughter and encouraged her to fight for her recovery.

“My climber. My builder. My hockey star,” she wrote. “Fight hard baby. They say you cant.

“They dont know you like we do.” Hunt shared that Maya’s current prognosis remains “unknown” and that the youngster remains in a medically induced coma.

Police are still working to determine Van Rootselaar’s motive. In a press conference, authorities confirmed that they had been called out to the suspect’s address several times in order to deal with mental health concerns.

During one visit, the teenager was taken to a hospital under the Mental Health Act. When asked if any of the visits concerned weapons, RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald simply replied, “Yes.” Van Rootselaar, who had been transitioning from male to female over a six-year period, did not have any firearms registered to her name.

Her gun license expired in 2024, and the two firearms found at the school were not registered to her.

Abbotsford police chief pleads for extortion victims to come forward

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"There's no doubt in my mind that some things aren't being reported," he said.

He added that reporting incidents to police can provide critical evidence in ongoing investigations.

"Reporting helps you, but it also helps the entire community."

Extortion, in which suspects threaten residents or businesses with violence in exchange for money, has been a growing public safety issue over the past two years.

communication between all parties, investigators, patrollers and residents.

At the Abbotsford Police Department's Tuesday news conference, Watson said any criticism of police responses to extortion aren't justified, although he did not specify what criticism he was responding to.

"Any criticism directed at police…is entirely undeserved," he said.

Watson said his team is doing "very good work" and explained there are certain aspects to their response that cannot be made public without compromising investigations.

Last week Premier David Eby said he was concerned with how the issue is being handled by police in the neighbouring city of Surrey.

Premier Eby says inconsistent communications between police sending wrong message to extortion victims

Inconsistencies between what the province's extortion task force has communicated to community members and what the Surrey Police Service has communicated has left residents confused over whether police are properly responding and able to protect them, he said.

In response, Eby announced that the province would form an advisory committee to work with police to identify gaps and improve

The department is "committed to transparency," he said.

"We must also work within our mandate and focus on riskbased responses."

Since late 2023, the Abbotsford Police Department says it has received 89 reports of extortion, arrested two people and identified two other suspects. It has also handed four files over to the provincial task force.

Watson added that officers have had to "park" some investigations in order to prioritize extortion investigations.

"We can and are currently working well beyond capacity, we don't have people sitting around waiting for things to do."

"We've had to make changes. We've had to park investigations, park some of the things that we'd ordinary [sic] like to do, to prioritize our work around extortions."

However, Watson said he's not currently seeking more funding for the department, adding that he's sensitive to the fact that any additional funding for police ultimately comes from residents.

Juvenile facing multiple rape charges

The High Court in Lautoka has cleared a juvenile of four sexual offence charges after the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to support the allegations.

The accused, who initially faced nine counts relating to two young girls in Sigatoka in 2022, had charges including rape, indecent assault, and sexual assault.

Following the close of the State’s case, the court ruled that the juvenile had no case to answer for one count of indecent assault by kissing, one count of sexual assault involving touching, and two counts of rape by penetration.

The accused will still face five remaining charges,

Dead

including one count of indecent assault and three counts of rape involving the first complainant, as well as one count of rape involving the second complainant.

During the trial, the first complainant, who was under 13 at the time, testified that the assaults occurred after her father asked the accused to assist her with homework. She said the accused allegedly threatened her if she reported the incidents. The court noted that because the complainants were aged eight and 11 during the alleged incidents, they legally could not consent, meaning consent is not a factor in the remaining charges.

The juvenile has denied all remaining counts.

fish wash up on Matanuku Island beaches

A large number of dead fish have been found washed up along the beaches of Matanuku Island, raising concern among nearby communities and environmental observers.

Most of the fish discovered are parrotfish, a key reef species that feeds on coral and plays an important role in maintaining healthy reef systems.

The cause of the fish deaths has not yet been officially confirmed. Discussion on social media suggests sudden changes in water temperature, low oxygen levels in the water, pollution or chemical runoff, harmful algal blooms, or the effects of rough seas and strong currents could be the reason.

Authorities are expected to assess the situation to determine the cause. Matanuku Island is part of the Kadavu group, an area known for its rich marine biodiversity, making the incident a concern for both environmental health and local livelihoods.

Vosarogo condemns Opposition leader’s remarks on former US president

Cabinet Minister Filimone Vosarogo has criticised comments made by Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu referencing the 46th President of the United States, describing them as “distasteful and offensive”. In a statement, Mr Vosarogo said the remarks likening Fiji’s Prime Minister to former US President Joe Biden were unbecoming of someone seeking to lead the country.

“The recent statement of the Leader of Opposition is downright distasteful. It is unbelievable coming from the position he holds,” Mr Vosarogo said.

He said references suggesting the former US president was “unable to keep pace with events” or offering “conflicting recollections” were offensive not only to the American people but also to President Biden’s family.

“He should be ashamed of himself. He seeks to lead this country and it is important that he practises decorum in his speech,” Mr Vosarogo said. He said President Biden had assumed office by right and questioned the Opposition leader’s own political standing.

“The 46th President of the United States carried himself to the White House by right. How about you? How did you get to Parliament?” he said.

Mr Vosarogo urged the Opposition leader to keep political discourse civil, polite and respectful.

“Respect is required from those who aspire to lead this nation, like the Leader of Opposition. That is fine.

In doing so, do so with dignity,” he said. He also warned that such remarks could have wider diplomatic implications.

‘Threat man’ in custody

A man who made threats of gun violence on social media was among five individuals further remanded by the Rakiraki Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with last month’s 2.6 tonnes cocaine bust in Vatia, Tavua.

Mr Kobululevu also faces an additional charge of criminal intimidation.

It is alleged that he conspired with others to unlawfully transport, transfer and store 2.6445 tonnes of cocaine and other illicit drugs.

Sunia Kobululevu is accused of threatening members of the Fiji Police Force on January 28 through a social media post.

Also in court was Norman Fisher, who was previously identified as a State witness in the Justin Ho drug case.

Magistrate Timoci Qalinauci remanded Mr Fisher, Manasa Saladrau, Mr Kobululevu, Trevis Cheer and Anaseini Lisa Kinikinilau Rokolati, who face multiple charges including conspiracy.

State witness in Justin Ho case, Norman Fisher among five charged over Vatia cocaine bust

A man previously identified as a state witness in the Justin Ho drug case is among five people who have appeared before the Rakiraki Magistrates Court charged in connection with the Vatia drug bust, where more than 2.6 tonnes of cocaine were seized by police.

The accused include Norman Fisher (42), Manasa Saladrau (46), Sunia Kobululevu (36), Trevis Cheer (33) and Australia-based hotel worker Anaseini Lisa Kinikinilau Rokolati (23).

Fisher’s appearance has drawn particular attention due to his role as a prosecution witness in the earlier Justin Ho case.

Police said further details surrounding the charges and the ongoing investigation will be released soon.

Family seeks justice after Australian child drowns at Fiji waterfall

A grieving Australian family is calling for accountability and safety reforms following the drowning of a five-year-old girl at Biausevu Waterfall in Fiji, a tragedy that has drawn international attention after being reported by 7 News Australia.

Brisbane child Lilly Wal was holidaying with her family when she was swept away by strong currents while visiting Biausevu Waterfall on January 12.

The Fiji Police Force confirmed that Lilly’s body was found along the Biausevu River the following day. In an emotional social media post, Lilly’s cousin Chiara Subek said the tragedy was the result of a “complete failure in duty of care” and accused tour operators and authorities of neglecting safety responsibilities.

“What was meant to be a beautiful getaway for my aunty and her little family instead became the most traumatic experience,” she wrote.

Subek alleged the family was never warned about the dangers associated with rainfall in the area and was not briefed on safety procedures,

despite local knowledge that access to the waterfall is unsafe during rain.

“They were taken up regardless, with no preparation, no proper guidance, no clear safety protocols,” she said, claiming that a child who did not work for the company was tasked with guiding families with young children during unsafe conditions. Subek also criticised the response following Lilly’s death, alleging a lack of accountability and compassion from local leaders and police. “This investigation has not been taken seriously at all,” she said.

“We want accountability, awareness and change, so no other family ever has to experience this pain. We need justice for our sweet Lilly.”

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the family, offering condolences but declining further comment due to privacy obligations.

Biausevu Waterfall is a popular tourist attraction on Viti Levu, located about a 90-minute drive from Nadi.

For the criminal intimidation charge, Mr Kobululevu is accused of threatening members of the Fiji Police Force on January 28 through a social media post, allegedly uttering words threatening gun violence with the intent to cause alarm to the public.

Mr Saladrau and Ms Rokolati are charged with unlawful possession of illicit drugs, after allegedly being found with 0.8122 grams of methamphetamine.

Mr Saladrau also faces an additional charge of destroying evidence, for allegedly wilfully damaging a Samsung A05 mobile phone on February 2 to prevent its contents from being used in court.

The matter was adjourned to February 27 and transferred to the High Court in Ba, where 11 other accused will appear.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2026

Projected results show BNP winning in 151 Bangaldesh constituencies

As the vote counting process is underway, the projected voting results show the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leading in 151 constituencies in the country's 13th parliamentary elections, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune.

According to the Dhaka Tribune, early morning vote counting showed BNP winning 151 constituencies so far. It further mentioned that the initial trends indicated Jamaat-e-Islami would emerge as the main opposition, securing 43 seats.

Despite these early outcomes, the vote counting process is still underway, and official results have yet to be declared. These preliminary figures suggest a significant shift in Bangladesh's political landscape, with the BNP alliance expected to surpass the halfway mark needed to form the government.

The BNP's chairman, Tarique Rahman, has requested that the celebration of this victory be postponed out of respect for the passing of his mother, Khaleda Zia, before the election. Therefore, they have called for prayers for Khaleda Zia after the Friday congregational prayer.

Unofficial results on Friday show Tarique Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in a strong lead as Bangladesh continues to count votes after its landmark election on Thursday. Rahman has been unofficially declared elected from the Bogura-6 (Sadar) constituency after securing a decisive victory over his nearest rival, as per the Daily Star.

Acording to results announced by the office of the District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Md Taufiqur Rahman, tallies from 150 polling centres have been completed. The constituency has a total of 151 voting centres, including postal ballots.

Official results have not yet been delivered by the Bangladesh Election Commission, which is expected to issue its announcement on Friday.

Bangladesh ushered in its most pivotal polls as it seeks to enter into a new chapter from the classic 'Battle of Begums' era on Thursday.

This election feels heavy after the demise of Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the ban on her nemesis, Sheikh Hasina's party, the Awami League.

Tarique Rahman-led BNP leads with 212 seats

In the ongoing vote count for Bangladesh's national parliamentary elections, the alliance led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has emerged with a strong lead, securing victories in 212 constituencies. The Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance has won 70 constituencies, according to unofficial results.

Meanwhile, independent candidates and other parties have collectively won around six seats.

Despite these early outcomes, the vote counting process is still underway, and official results have

yet to be declared. These preliminary figures suggest a significant shift in Bangladesh's political landscape, with the BNP alliance appearing to surpass the halfway mark needed to form the government.

The BNP's chairman, Tarique Rahman, has requested that the celebration of this victory be postponed out of respect for the passing of his mother, Khaleda Zia, before the election. Therefore, they have called for prayers for Khaleda Zia after the Friday congregational prayer.

SOUTH ASIA

'Set to form government', says BNP as projected results show Rahman's win

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Friday said that it is set to form the government as vote counting is underway for the 13th parliamentary elections in the country.

In a post on X, the BNP Media cell said in the early hours of Friday, "The Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP is set to form the government after winning the majority of seats."

Soon after, the US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Brent T Christensen in a post on X on Friday extended wishes to Bangladesh on the successful elections and congratulated the BNP Chairperson.

Christenson said, "Congratulations to the people of Bangladesh on a successful election and to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Tarique Rahman on your historic victory. The United States looks forward to working with you to realize shared goals of prosperity and security for both our countries."

Local media reports project BNP securing a historic win in the elections. According to the Daily Star, the vote count for 194 constituencies has been completed, while 105 remain.

Of the 299 seats, the Daily Star said that BNP and its allies have secured 149 seats, followed by Jamaat and its allies with 39.

As the vote counting process is underway, the projected voting results show BNP leading in 151

constituencies in the country's 13th parliamentary elections, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune.

According to the Dhaka Tribune, early morning vote counting showed BNP winning 151 constituencies so far. It further mentioned that the initial trends indicated Jamaat-e-Islami would emerge as the main opposition, securing 43 seats. Despite these early outcomes, the vote counting process is still underway, and official results have yet to be declared. These preliminary figures suggest a significant shift in Bangladesh's political landscape, with the BNP alliance expected to surpass the halfway mark needed to form the government.

The BNP's chairman, Tarique Rahman, has requested that the celebration of this victory be postponed out of respect for the passing of his mother, Khaleda Zia, before the election. Therefore, they have called for prayers for Khaleda Zia after the Friday congregational prayer. Rahman has been unofficially declared elected from the Bogura-6 (Sadar) constituency after securing a decisive victory over his nearest rival, as per the Daily Star.

According to results announced by the office of the District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Md Taufiqur Rahman, tallies from 150 polling centres have been completed. The constituency has a total of 151 voting centres, including postal ballots.

Official results have not yet been delivered by the Bangladesh Election Commission, which is expected to issue its announcement on Friday. Bangladesh ushered in its most pivotal polls as it seeks to enter into a new chapter from the classic 'Battle of Begums' era on Thursday.

This election feels heavy after the demise of Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the ban on her nemesis, Sheikh Hasina's party, the Awami League.

Food bowl states Punjab and Haryana rank third, fourth in agri debt burden

Farmers of India’s food bowl -- Punjab and Haryana -- are among the most indebted in the country. With an outstanding debt of Rs 2.03 lakh and Rs 1.83 lakh per agricultural household, Punjab and Haryana have the dubious distinction of being at No. 3 and 4, respectively.

Only Andhra Pradesh (Rs 2.45 lakh) and Kerala (Rs 2.42 lakh) are ahead of Punjab and Haryana in debt per farm household. The country as a whole has a debt of Rs 74,121 per agricultural family, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in a reply to a question by member Kalipada Saren Kherwal in the Lok Sabha.

The lowest debt per agricultural family is reported by Nagaland at just Rs 1,750, followed by Meghalaya (Rs 2,237) and Arunachal Pradesh (Rs 3,581). The group of UTs reported debt of Rs 25,629 per farm family. In the region, Rajasthan reported a debt of Rs 1.13 lakh, Himachal Pradesh Rs 85,825 and Jammu and Kashmir Rs 30,435.

States with more than Rs 1 lakh debt included Tamil Nadu (Rs 1.06 lakh), Karnataka (Rs 1.26 lakh) and Telangana (Rs 1.52 lakh). The Hindi-belt states, including Bihar (Rs 23,534), Chhattisgarh (Rs 21,443), Jharkhand (Rs 8,415), Madhya Pradesh

(Rs 74,420), Odisha (Rs 32,721), Uttarakhand (Rs 48,338), and Uttar Pradesh (Rs 51,107), reported moderate debt burden.

“The average amount of outstanding loan per agricultural household in the rural areas of the country is estimated through the situational assessment survey of agricultural households conducted by the National Statistical Office of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation,” the minister added. Experts said the figures reflected persistent credit dependency among farmers, usually linked to rising input costs, stagnant income, erratic weather conditions, especially uncertainty of the monsoon, delays in procurement payments, small landholdings, wasteful spending on social ceremonies, and a high rate of illiteracy.

First Sikh in Pakistan army now Lieutenant Colonel

Harcharan Singh, the first turbaned Pakistani Sikh, who made history by securing a place in the Pakistan army has now become the first Sikh to be decorated with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was born in 1987 in Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak. His promotion to Lieutenant Colonel was approved after rigorous selection board evaluation conducted in late 2025. Minorities have faced a hard time finding space in the Islamic framework of statehood in the neighbouring country.

Confirming this, Pakistan Punjab’s Minister for Minorities Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora said though many Christians have served in the Pakistan army, no Hindu or Sikh ‘could qualify’. Singh had joined the Pakistan army in 2007 at the age of 20 as Captain. Initially serving in the Ordnance Corps, Singh later volunteered for a

combat role and was posted to the 12th Battalion of the Baloch Regiment where he served in demanding operational and border areas while being at the rank of Major.

“Lt Col Singh’s achievement has proved that there is no barrier for the minorities in Pakistan, and that only talent speaks and sets the parameters for success. Lt Col Singh is an example of equality of all religions and unity in Pakistan. We, as part of the Sikh community, will give him a rousing welcome when he visits his hometown next,” he said.

Delighted at his brother’s success, Mastan Singh, the former president of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) said, “Lt Col Singh is the pride of Baba Nanak’s city and the whole Sikh community, as well,” he said. At present, Lt Col Singh is posted at Abbottabad in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Punjab, Haryana miss out on panchayat awards

Punjab and Haryana failed to find a mention in the National Panchayat Awards, under the Incentivisation of Panchayat scheme for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, even as Maharashtra, Odisha and Telangana fared well.

“Dawaa S panchayat in Gondia district of Maharashtra won Rs 1 crore under the Climate Action Special Panchayat Award (CASPA) for the year 2025. Mall panchayat in Rangareddi district of Telangana won the Atma Nirbhar Panchayat Special Award for the same year,” Union Minister of Panchyati Raj Rajiv Ranjan Singh told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

“In 2024, Galibeedu panchayat in Kodagu district of Karnataka was adjudged as the best ‘Poverty Free and Enhanced Livelihoods’ Panchayat. Bommasamudrum panchayat in Andhra Pradesh’s Chittor district won the award under the ‘Healthy Panchayat’ category. Jengrai in Assam’s Majuli district won it for ‘Child-friendly Panchayat’. Nayampudi in Visakhapatanam won the recognition for ‘Water-Sufficient Panchayat’. South Manubankul panchayat in Tripura was the best ‘Women-friendly Panchayat’,” he said. “Khandobachiwadi panchayat in Maharashtra was adjudged as the best ‘Poverty Free and Enhanced Livelihoods’ Panchayat in the year

2023. While, Gowthampur in Telangana won in the ‘Healthy Panchayat' category, Cheruthana in Kerala was the best 'Child-Friendly Panchayat', and Aipoor in Telangana was the best 'Womenfriendly Panchayat that year,” the minister added.

Among the northern states, Sira gram panchayat in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir won the second position in the ‘Child-Friendly Panchayat’ category for the year 2023. Phalmerg in the UT stood third in the ‘Water-Sufficient Panchayat’ category that year. Fatehpora panchayat was one of the winners in the 'WomenFriendly Panchayat' category, the government said. It added that Sikander panchayat in Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur district won in the ‘Water-Sufficient Panchayat’ category, while Thanadhar won in the ‘Socially Secured Panchayat’ category in 2024.

Singh was responding to MP Satnam Singh Sandhu’s query on steps taken by the ministry towards incentivization of best performing panchayats in the country, particularly towards modernization of the grassroots democracy in Punjab. The minister said under the BharatNet project, as on February 5, a total of 12,807 out of 13,236 gram panchayats in Punjab had been made service-ready.

India’s dream to build a thousand ships

A bona fide Korean meal and a trip to a Korean supermarket may have helped clinch India’s biggest commercial shipyard deal ever.

On a visit to the port town of Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) in March last year, executives of South Korean shipping major HD Hyundai stopped for lunch. Their hosts, Tamil Nadu state government officials, had picked a Korean restaurant owned and staffed by expats.

“They were really surprised to find Korean food four hours outside Chennai,” Darez Ahamed, CEO of the state’s investment promotion agency Guidance, told me.

Earlier in the trip the group visited a Korean supermarket that supplies some 5,000 expats working at the over 110 South Korean companies invested in the south Indian state, including Hyundai’s large automobile manufacturing factory.

This soft diplomacy, backed by an optimal location, a strong industrialization record and significant land and capital subsidies, put Tamil Nadu ahead of Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh in India’s race to build a fleet of over 1,000 flag carriers in the next 10 years.

“The Hyundai team’s first response after seeing Thootukudi was that it reminded them of Ulsan from 30 years ago,” Ahamed said. Ulsan is where HD Hyundai began shipbuilding in the early 1970s; last year it delivered its 5,000th vessel.

China has displaced South Korea as the world’s largest shipmaker, raising national security concerns for countries like India and the US.

India owns just over 1,500 ships, about 1.2% of

the global shipping fleet. It spends an estimated $90 billion a year on freight, moved mostly by foreign vessels, according to a report from credit rating agency ICRA. To cut that reliance and dollar outflow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has reworked policies and earmarked close to 700 billion rupees ($7.71 billion) in shipbuilding incentives over the next decade.

It will take much more such support as India produces less than 1% of the world’s commercial ships. The few shipyards in the country are largely government-owned and build mostly naval vessels, orders for which have spiked in recent years. The challenge is to develop a commercial ship building industry at competitive scale in the face of overcapacity in China and US revival efforts.

In Kattupalli in Tamil Nadu, things are finally looking up. The shipyard run by Larsen & Toubro, a private sector engineering and construction giant, began operations in 2013 with the intent of building commercial vessels, but has supplied mostly to the Navy and Coast Guard. Production costs in India are up to 20% higher than in east Asia due to imported steel, marine engines and other equipment. Productivity is lower and build times are twice as long, Arun Ramchandani, senior vice president and head of L&T Precision Engineering & Systems, tells me. The ancillary ecosystem is fragmented and underdeveloped, and cheap, patient financing is scarce. There are also a multitude of tax, insurance and other hurdles.

“These factors make Indian yards uncompetitive, but a turnaround is increasingly visible,” he said. Alongside efforts to subsidize the cost gap and augment supply, the government is also stepping up demand. Earlier this month, several public sector companies signed an agreement to establish the Bharat Container Shipping Line. It will receive funding to buy ships from a new 100 billion rupee scheme announced in this month’s federal budget.

Barring Trump, no one says India won’t buy oil from Russia: Sergei Lavrov

Except US President Donald Trump, nobody else has declared that India will stop buying Russian oil, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the country's parliament Wednesday. Lavrov's comments came two days after Russia accused the US of attempting to prevent India and other countries from buying Russian oil, saying Washington was using a wide range of "coercive" measures, including tariffs, sanctions and direct prohibitions.

On Wednesday, responding to a lawmaker in the State Duma (Lower House), Lavrov said, "You mentioned that Donald Trump announced India's agreement to no longer purchase Russian oil. I have not heard such a statement from anyone else, including Prime Minister Modi and other Indian leaders."

a substantial package of joint documents was signed during President Putin's state visit to India last December. This visit enriched Russian-Indian relations, creating a special, privileged strategic partnership," Lavrov said.

He noted that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, setting the trend for India's chairmanship of BRICS, told the first meeting of sherpas in New Delhi that energy security will be one of the top items of the BRICS summit, expected to be attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Speaking during the Government Hour of the State Duma, which hears cabinet ministers who report about the performance of their ministries, Lavrov said, President Putin's state visit to India in December 2025 had further enriched relations between Moscow and New Delhi. "In particular,

A new meeting between the two countries' leaders is expected to take place on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, which will be held this year under the Indian chairmanship, Lavrov said.

Russia is ready to go as far in relations with India as New Delhi would desire, he said, adding, the sky is the limit.

India formally assumed on January 1, 2026, the chairmanship of BRICS, a 10-member bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, along with five new members.

Earlier, accusing the US of using "unfair methods" to suppress competitors by imposing sanctions on Russian oil companies, Lavrov said in an interview with TV BRICS on Monday, "(The US) is attempting to control our trade, investment cooperation, and military-technical ties with major strategic partners, such as India and other BRICS members." While announcing a trade deal with India last week, Trump claimed New Delhi had agreed not to procure crude oil from Russia.

In an executive order, Trump rolled back an additional 25 per cent tariff on India that he imposed in August last for India's procurement of crude oil from Russia.

Modi sold India’s interests under US chokehold: Rahul Gandhi on trade deal

Terming the India-US interim trade deal “one-sided”, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “sold the interests and pride of India”, surrendered energy security and compromised farmers' interests under a chokehold from Washington. In tweets posted after attacking the PM in the Lok Sabha while participating in the debate on the Union Budget, Rahul said the US would now watch Indian oil purchases.

“Who gets to decide from whom does India buy its oil — India or the US? Who gave the US the power to halt beneficial crude purchases by India?”

Rahul said on X accusing the PM of trading Indian interests. He said the future of 140 crore Indians “had been mortgaged” in the deal.

“No PM surrenders unless there is pressure and chokehold. India realises this is an unequal deal, one of compromise,” Rahul said on X after levelling the same charges inside the Lok Sabha where the Chair expunged the adverse comments by a written late evening order. Inside the Lok Sabha, allegations of the Leader of Opposition triggered sharp reactions from the treasury benches with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju objecting to Rahul’s language and rebutting to his remarks against the PM. Rijiju demanded that the remarks be expunged (which they were later).

Rahul however repeated the same charges outside through X posts. He said no Prime Minister, including Narendra Modi, would strike such a deal unless there was undue pressure on him.

He alleged that the government had given up control over digital trade rules, removed need for data localisation, allowed free flow of Indian data to the US, limited digital taxes, and removed the requirement to disclose source codes. He said if the INDIA bloc had negotiated with US President Donald Trump, it would have insisted that Indian data remain under Indian control and that energy security be protected.

On tariffs, he claimed that average rates had moved from around 3 per cent earlier to about 18 per cent now, while American goods were entering on favourable terms now from 16 per cent to zero. Citing the textile sector, Rahul said he had visited a factory in Gurugram, Haryana, where owners told him they were finished because of tariff changes.

He referred to a 20-year tax holiday and objected to US exports to India rising from $46 billion to $146 billion, questioning the absence of matching commitments from Washington. India, he said, should negotiate as an equal and not allow itself to be treated on a par with Pakistan. On agriculture, he said maize, soybean and cotton farmers among others would be hit as Indian markets were opened to mechanised American farm products. He described it as unprecedented and said no previous Prime Minister had taken such steps. “You have allowed the US to weaponise our energy and finance against us,” he said. Rijiju objected to Rahul's language and utterances which were later removed from the record. But Rahul took to X to ask if “no shame was felt in trading Indian interests.” He named Union minister Hardeep Puri and an industrialist for alleged links with Epstein, the chair repeatedly intervened directing him not to take names or level unverified charges. BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad raised procedural objections, asking whether advance notice had been given for naming the PM and ministers. Monday-Friday - 12:00pm - 9:30pm & Saturday-Sunday

In the House, Rahul began his address with an analogy of how in martial arts after securing a grip, the opponent exercises chokehold leading the rival to announce surrender via a tap. India’s strength, Rahul said, was massive data generated by 1.4 billion people which needed to be protected.

DAC nod for 114 Rafale jets, sets stage for Russia-like France tie-up

In its biggest-ever push, the Defence Acquisition Council on Thursday approved a proposal to procure 114 Rafale jets from French plane manufacturer Dassault, setting the stage for a longdrawn strategic tie-up for the Indian Air Force’s battle readiness.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the apex decision-making body of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), also okayed the acquisition of six additional US-made Boeing P8-I surveillance planes for the Navy. It also approved the purchase of a high-altitude pseudo satellite (HAPS) vehicle and 350plus Scalp long-range air-launched cruise missiles that played a major role in last year’s Operation Sindoor against Pakistan.

Chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the DAC meeting accorded “acceptance of necessity” (AoN) for proposals of the services having an estimated value of about Rs 3.60 lakh crore ($39 billion), the MoD said. The payment schedule will be spread across several financial years and the AoN is the first step towards the acquisition process.

planes.

After the latest acquisition, India will have 176 Rafales in its fleet, with experts saying increasing the numbers would reduce maintenance costs.

The Russian-origin Sukhoi 30MKI jets—272 in number—so far comprise the largest fleet. A Rafale flight-training and maintenance, repair and overhaul facility is operational at the IAF

base in Ambala. The Air Force has the capacity— space, spares, tooling and trained manpower—to immediately induct two squadrons (some 36-38 planes).

The United Nations Security Council’s Monitoring Team, in its 37th report, has recorded that the Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-eMohammed (JeM) claimed responsibility for a series of attacks and was reportedly linked to last year’s November 10 strike on Delhi’s Red Fort that left 15 people dead.

The report states that one Member State informed the Monitoring Team that JeM — listed under the UN sanctions regime — had claimed multiple attacks during the reporting period. The same Member State further indicated that the group was connected to the assault on the Red Fort, one of the country’s most heavily guarded heritage and security landmarks.

The report notes that on October 8, JeM chief Mohammed Masood Azhar Alvi formally announced the creation of a women-only wing, Jamaat ul-Muminat (not listed under the UN sanctions regime). The new formation, the Member State said, was aimed at supporting terrorist operations, signalling an organisational recalibration within the outfit.

broader recruitment and radicalisation strategy. Responding to queries, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the report was in the public domain and reflected India’s concerns. “The report you’re referring to is publicly available online. It’s the 7037 report of the Analytical and Support Sanctions Monitoring Team, published on February 4, 2026.

We’ve seen that they’ve taken into account our inputs and India’s inputs regarding our concerns about cross-border terrorism, and also on how we can strengthen the global fight against terrorism,” he said. However, the report also highlights divergent assessments within the international community.

Another Member State told the Monitoring Team that JeM was defunct, presenting a sharply contrasting view of the outfit’s operational status.

The purchase of 114 Rafales will allow France Russia-like dominance in India’s combat jet sector. The planes will be acquired under a Make in India scheme, with Dassault partnering with an Indian company. The Air Force already flies 36 Rafales while the Navy has ordered 26 marine variant

The French plane maker will integrate Indian weapons, missiles and ammunition on all 114 jets and also provide secure data links to allow digital integration of the jets with Indian radars and sensors. This will allow sending imagery to ground-based controllers.

BJP MP files notice for Rahul Gandhi's ouster from Lok Sabha

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Thursday initiated a formal process seeking to disqualify Congress MP Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha.

The step came in the aftermath of acrimonious exchanges between Rahul and BJP MPs over several controversial issues, including the alleged circulation of former Army Chief Gen MM Naravane’s unpublished book.

A combative Rahul, however, was unfazed by the move. In a video message, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) said whether an FIR was filed, a criminal case was registered or a privilege motion was brought against him, he would continue to fight for farmers.

on the Budget in the Lok Sabha, had levelled allegations against Union Minister and former diplomat Hardeep Singh Puri on the Epstein files disclosures.

Dubey’s retaliatory action on Thursday has stemmed from the LoP’s allegations against Puri and also against the government as a whole.

After filing paperwork to initiate action against Rahul, Dubey said the Congress MP seemed to be connected to foreign powers.

“Who is funding Rahul, whose motive is to destroy the nation?

How did he get the unpublished book? The Lok Sabha must reject Rahul’s membership,” Dubey said.

The Tribune had reported on October 22 last year that JeM had also launched an online course titled “Tufat al-Muminat” (Gift to the Believers) designed to indoctrinate and mobilise women through daily virtual lectures — an initiative seen as part of its

He said any trade deal which “takes away the livelihood of farmers or weakens the country’s food security is anti-farmer”.

Rahul alleged that the Modi government was compromising with the interests of the country’s “annadatas” and claimed that farmers and their hard work had been handed over to the US. On February 11, the Congress MP, while speaking

“This is not the first time that Rahul has made efforts to create controversy with the objective of defaming the government…be it defence, finance, commerce, external affairs…he has the uncanny knack of fomenting public sentiments by raising unsubstantiated and unethical aspects in Parliament as well as other public fora,” Dubey said in the notice.

India deal matters more to the US

The Indian Opposition is cacophonic about the trade deal and cut in tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking if it gives away too much agriculture access or cuts back on Russian oil purchases, but they seem to have no real understanding of what might have swung the deal. Chances are it had everything to do with the dollar and nothing to do with Indian agriculture (or Russian oil) – no matter the posts on X by the US agriculture secretary and Trump himself.

The key offer from India might have been a ‘go slow’ on the one thing that gives America the maximum anxiety – a move away from the dollar and talk of a ‘Brics currency’.

This is the one thing that makes the most sense if one tries to understand the timing of the announcement of this deal and possible reasons

why Trump would have been convinced to cut tariffs for India.

The US dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency underpins American economic power, facilitating low-cost borrowing and sanction enforcement through systems like Swift.

Brics nations have accelerated efforts to reduce dollar reliance, promoting local currency settlements and exploring a common payment platform at their 2025 summit. Trump has repeatedly threatened 100 per cent tariffs on Brics countries pursuing a rival currency, viewing it as an existential threat to US financial leverage.

Brics, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa since 2009, has undergone dramatic expansion in recent years, reflecting the Global South’s push for multipolar influence amid declining Western dominance.