The impact of extortion-related shootings and threats is forcing some in Surrey to rethink their business decisions.
Community leaders say people are living in fear and business owners and contractors have stopped expansion plans, advertising and even driving nice vehicles. Realtor Beerinder Sidhu told that violence is making some buyers think twice about moving to Surrey and some home builders have paused their projects.
“I’ve seen dramatic change in the market due to uncertainty or extortion calls,” he said.
“I have spoken with contractors who have expressed serious concerns. Some have reduced advertisements or public visibility out of fear of receiving extortion calls.” Continued on Page 10...
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s coming trip to India is expected to further efforts for a diplomatic reset and strengthen Canada’s trade links with the world’s fourth biggest economy. Carney arrives in New Delhi on Thursday, as part of a regional tour that also takes in Australia and Japan. Analysts see this as a clear signal of Ottawa and Delhi’s shared intent to prioritise economic ties.
Canada has positioned its talks with India as a key step in diversifying trade and reducing reliance on the US market.
The outreach follows a sharp downturn in relations in 2023, after then Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Indian agents were involved in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia, a charge Delhi has denied.
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University Health Network’s Toronto General Hospital is now ranked #2 in the world in Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2026. It is the highest position ever achieved by a Canadian hospital. The recognition also marks the eighth consecutive year that UHN has been named the world’s top universally accessible hospital.
Nine other Canadian hospitals also placed prominently in the global rankings. Mount Sinai Hospital ranked 27th worldwide, followed by Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre at 30. North York General Hospital appeared at 67.
In Montreal, Montreal General Hospital–McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) ranked 89, Jewish General Hospital placed 133, and Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal ranked 158. St. Michael’s Hospital–Unity Health Toronto came in at 116, and Toronto Western Hospital–University Health Network ranked 128.
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Surrey police have released a photo of a man who has been removed from Canada as it makes a public appeal for information about his associates and what he was up to while in this country.
The man is suspected of having been involved in the extortion. Lovebir Singh, a 22-year-old foreign national, arrived in Canada in the fall of 2023. He was identified by the Surrey Police Service early this year as a suspect in an extortion-related crime. Police contacted the Canada Border
Services Agency about Singh and, after an immigration investigation, he was deported. His photo was released because investigators determined “disclosure is necessary to assist with ongoing police investigations.
“SPS hopes that the public release of this image of Lovebir Singh prompts additional witnesses, victims or associates to come forward with relevant information regarding (his) activities,” said Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton in a statement.
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A former British Columbia school trustee will be going to court to challenge a $750,000 penalty imposed by the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, which ruled that he poisoned the workplaces of LGBTQ+ staff members with a public campaign against classroom resources on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Lawyer James Kitchen said in an interview Monday that his client, Barry Neufeld, will be seeking a judicial review in the B.C. Supreme Court after the tribunal last week ordered the payment to members of the Chilliwack Teachers Association who identify as LGBTQ+.
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4 extortion Liberal MP denounces official who claimed India ceased foreign interference against Canada
A Liberal MP whose riding has been the scene of suspected Indian government operations has denounced a senior official who claimed New Delhi had ceased its foreign interference campaign against Canada.
Sukh Dhaliwal, whose Surrey-Newton constituency was shocked by India’s alleged 2023 assassination of a local temple president, said the official was out of step with the community and national security agencies
“I strongly condemn these statements made by this official because he’s not in touch with the realities on the ground,” the veteran MP told Global News in an interview at his riding office on Thursday. “I’m dealing with the community and the victims almost on a regular basis. And this
is totally irresponsible,” he said. “People across Canada, they are all coming to me and telling me the same thing, that this is still continuing.”
He said the official’s comments were at odds with Canada’s National Security Advisor, the RCMP and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, which he said made no statements indicating that Indian efforts had stopped.
As recently as the last federal election, Dhaliwal said he believes he was himself targeted by Indian foreign interference. But he said victims are reluctant to speak out, because they fear for their families in India.
“It’s very hard for them to come out and publicly speak. And basically, they are pressured, either diplomatically or forcibly,” said Dhaliwal,
who was served in the riding south of Vancouver since 2015. In a written statement, he called for an investigation into “the judgment and responsibilities exercised by the individual who made these remarks,” saying his “conduct and suitability for their role must be reviewed.”
The dispute over whether Indian foreign interference efforts continue erupted as Prime Minister Mark Carney was to arrive in Mumbai on Friday. He will then meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. On the eve of his visit, a senior government official said at a background briefing that India had halted the violence against opponents in Canada that prompted Ottawa to chill relations with Modi’s government.
The official, who spoke to reporters on the condition he would not be named, said, “We’re confident that that activity is not continuing or we would not be having this type of discussion.”
Pressed by reporters to clarify the comment, the senior official declined to elaborate, but said, “I really don’t think we’d be taking this trip if we thought these kind of activities would continue.”
The statement marked the first time Canada had claimed that Indian intelligence operations, which have been blamed for at least one murder, thwarted plots to kill pro-Khalistan activists and extortions, had halted.
Global News asked both the RCMP and CSIS whether they agreed with the Carney official’s comments. Neither directly answered the question.
The Prime Minister’s Office said security was the government’s top priority, but did not address Dhaliwal’s statement. Coming as Carney is about to arrive in India in the hope of securing a trade deal to offset the current U.S. tariff agenda, the official’s claim has been met with skepticism, particularly among Canada’s Sikhs.
The World Sikh Organization of Canada called the official’s comment’s “utterly false” and said they did “not align with what Sikh Canadians are experiencing on the ground and what we are seeing firsthand.”
Just last weekend, Vancouver police warned Canadian Sikh activist Moninder Singh about an imminent threat to himself, his wife and their children. It is the fourth such warning he was received since 2022.
Writing on X, former CSIS analyst Jessica Davis said it seemed unlikely that Indian interference had stopped. “Either the government is naively believing India, or it is misleading Canadians,” she wrote.
Canada’s national security agencies believe India began a campaign in 2022 to kill activists in North America who support Khalistan, an independent state in the Sikh-majority Punjab region.
The first victim was allegedly Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead outside the Surrey, B.C. temple where he served as president. The RCMP believes India had gang boss Lawrence Bishnoi organize the killing.
The FBI uncovered a similar plot to kill a Canadian pro-Khalistan activist in New York. Again, India hired an organized crime figure to carry out the murder.
The policing transition in Surrey has been marked by “friction and a “strained working relationship” between the RCMP and the new city police force, as well as delays in the handover of investigative files, according to Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke.
Locke expressed those concerns in a letter to B.C. Premier David Eby in June 2025, and reiterated them in a followup letter in December, copies of which were obtained by Postmedia News through a freedom-of-information request.
“We remain concerned that the two agencies’ strained working relationship is prolonging the transition and diluting accountability on major files,” Locke wrote. “Despite the best efforts of the two policing agencies in Surrey, the handoff of investigative files from RCMP systems to SPS remains protracted … It is increasingly clear that inter-agency friction is impeding the development of an efficient transfer. Accelerating this handover is essential not only for investigative continuity, but also for restoring fiscal responsibility to Surrey taxpayers.” The mayor’s private statements to Eby are a sharp contrast to her public statements. In October, when Locke sat down for an interview with Postmedia and was asked about the relationship between Surrey police and the RCMP, she replied: “Oh, I think they’re very unified. I don’t think there’s a division there at all. In fact, they do work — they’re very simpatico about how they’re doing their work.”
An interview with Locke wasn’t granted by the city for this story. Postmedia followed up with several questions through email for the mayor, including what evidence she had that police file transfers have been protracted.
The mayor’s private statements to Eby are a sharp contrast to her public statements. In October, when Locke sat down for an interview with
Postmedia and was asked about the relationship between Surrey police and the RCMP, she replied: “Oh, I think they’re very unified. I don’t think there’s a division there at all. In fact, they do work — they’re very simpatico about how they’re doing their work.”
An interview with Locke wasn’t granted by the city for this story. Postmedia followed up with several questions through email for the mayor, including what evidence she had that police file transfers have been protracted.
Surrey Police Chief Norm Lipinski has disclosed that he had sought a four-month delay in his department’s expansion into the Cloverdale neighbourhood, citing the resources he’s had to dedicate to investigating the extortion crisis in the city. But, according to Lipinski, the B.C. government’s director of policing denied his request and told the SPS that the transition into Cloverdale must happen by April 1.
In her letters to Eby last year, Locke called on the premier for “decisive action” in response to the concerns she raised. She specifically asked, among other things, for the province to “establish and publish a firm timetable with milestones for RCMP demobilization, file transfers and full SPS operational readiness.”
Locke cited the challenges the city faces to “bankroll two parallel police services.”
Canada and India: trade, energy and diplomacy
Prime Minister Mark Carney is due in India this week, seeking to boost trade and mend fractured ties on the first stop of his Asia-Pacific tour.
The two countries are aiming to reset their relations, which deteriorated following Canadian allegations that India was involved in the 2023 assassination of a Canadian Sikh leader — claims New Delhi strongly denied.
Carney will begin his visit in Mumbai, India’s financial hub, before travelling to New Delhi for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Both countries face rapidly shifting global trade policies and uncertainty over U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, adding urgency to efforts to diversify economic partnerships.
Carney’s office said discussions will focus on “ambitious new partnerships in trade, energy, technology and artificial intelligence [AI], talent and culture, and defence”.
Here is a closer look at what is expected to be on the agenda. India, the world’s fastest-growing major economy, is Canada’s seventh-largest goods and services trading partner.
Annual two-way trade is more than $21 billion, according to Canadian government figures.
Lastyear, the countries agreed to resume negotiations on a proposed free-trade agreement aimed at taking bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030.
“India and Canada have great potential in strengthening trade and investment,” Modi said at the time. More than 600 Canadian companies are present in India, operating in sectors including information technology, banking, health sciences and financial services.
India’s main exports to Canada include pharmaceuticals, gems, jewellery and precious stones, and seafood. New Delhi, which is seeking to attract more overseas investments, says Canadian pension and wealth funds have already invested $73 billion in India. The government has eased foreign investment rules, opening up sensitive sectors such
as defence, energy and insurance.
Energy and minerals
Mining giant Canada holds large rare-earth metal reserves, and New Delhi is looking at ways to ease its dependence on China.
Energy-hungry India — the world’s most populous country, with 1.4 billion people — hopes Canada can support its ambitious plan to expand nuclear power capacity from its current 8 to 100 gigawatts by 2047.
When Carney and Modi met in November, they reaffirmed civil nuclear co-operation, including potential long-term uranium supply agreements.
A multi-billion-dollar deal on extended uranium supplies is reportedly under discussion.
“India sees major collaboration potential with Canada in critical minerals, clean energy and emerging technologies,” New Delhi’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said last year.
Sikh separatists
Canada has roughly 2.8 million people who are either Indian or of Indian origin.
Nearly 400,000 Indians attend universities in Canada, according to New Delhi, making up the largest group of international students in the country. Canada is also home to the largest Sikh community outside India.
The community includes activists of a fringe separatist movement seeking an independent state for the religious minority carved out of Indian territory, which they call Khalistan.
Ottawa accused India of orchestrating the 2023 killing in Vancouver of Canadian citizen Hardeep
Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistan campaigner, and targeting other Sikh activists connected to the movement.
Ties improved after Carney took office in March 2025, and envoys have since been restored.
The separatist campaign has been blamed for the assassination of an Indian prime minister and the bombing of a passenger jet.
Carney follows up speech in Davos with trip to India, Australia, Japan
Prime Minister Mark Carney left Ottawa Thursday morning for a 10-day visit to India, Australia and Japan — his first international trip since his headline-making speech in Davos that called for middle powers to band together.
It will give Carney a chance to put that speech into action as he visits three "powerhouses of the region," Asia Pacific Foundation vice-president Vina Nadjibulla said in an interview.
"The Indo-Pacific is where the centre of gravity for geopolitics and economic growth … is increasingly converging," she said.
In his speech to the World Economic Forum in January, Carney urged middle
powers to work together against "American hegemony" and the efforts of great powers to coerce and subjugate smaller countries.
"In Asia, Canada is having a moment. Prime Minister Carney's speech really was quite an important development in how Asia sees Canada," Nadjibulla said. University of Waterloo political science professor David Welch said the trip is a "clear follow" on the speech, since India, Japan and Australia are all important middle powers. He said Canada’s "stock has risen dramatically globally since the Davos speech." But it’s still not clear how much Carney will be able to accomplish with the trip, beyond symbolism.
Ex-B.C. school trustee to fight $750,000 penalty for 'insidious'
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anti-SOGI campaign
Critics of the ruling have included federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who called it "Orwellian," and British comedian John Cleese, who said he would avoid performing in B.C. as a result. But it has been applauded by the B.C. human rights commissioner and the BC Teachers' Federation. Kitchen said he was not surprised by the outcome, noting that he and his client, a former trustee of the Chilliwack Board of Education, were discussing a judicial review and appeals before the hearing started.
He called the tribunal's decision a "foregone conclusion," but said in an interview that they intended to challenge "pretty much all of the findings" at the B.C. Supreme Court — and will continue the fight as far as it goes, which he expects will be the B.C. Court of Appeal. He said the judicial review will be "ready by the second week of March at the latest, maybe the first week of March if we're lucky."
"Our position from the get-go was that none of these posts are discriminatory or hateful and so we'll get to the B.C. Supreme Court and we're going to argue pretty much the same thing," Kitchen said.
The Feb. 18 ruling came more than eight years after the BC Teachers' Federation and Chilliwack Teachers' Association filed the human rights complaint against Neufeld on behalf of their members, specifically those who identified as LGBTQ+, from October 2017 through 2022.
It says that for five years, Neufeld "publicly denigrated LGBTQ people and teachers and associated them with the worst forms of child abuse," which created a discriminatory work environment for teachers in the district.
The ruling says he exposed educators to "repeated messages that their very existence was a threat to children, families and social order,"
invoking "the most insidious discriminatory stereotypes and tropes" to denigrate their efforts to create an inclusive education environment for LGBTQ+ students.
It says his statements, framed as criticism of the classroom resources known as SOGI 123, included warning that teaching children about diverse sexual orientations primes them for sexual abuse and "characterized trans people, especially children, as confused, abused, manipulated, sexualized, mutilated and deceptive."
It noted that Neufeld denied his statements were derogatory and argued he was "simply targeting a set of ideas." But the tribunal said it disagreed. Kitchen said his arguments before the tribunal were more tailored for a judicial review than the tribunal, so much of the arguments willremain the same. "We may focus more on the hateful bit than the discrimination bit because obviously the implications for that for society are more grave," he noted. Human rights lawyer Susan Kootnekoff said tribunal decisions are on the rise across Canada and decision amounts are also increasing.
"It's certainly the highest award that I'm aware of that the BC Human Rights Tribunal has made against an individual to date," she said of Neufeld's case.
Kootnekoff, the founder of Inspire Law in Kelowna, B.C., said her first impression of the case was that the complaint itself was "not that common" as it was lodged against an individual and not the employer.
She also noted that the judgment's amount was "certainly a high award against only an individual." Kootnekoff, who is not involved in the case, said one potential area of challenge may be around the calculation of the award amount, which appeared to have been based on assumptions.
All trade, no costumes: What to know about Carney's trip to India, as government signals security shift
Prime Minister Mark Carney departed Thursday on his first trip to India, Australia and Japan as prime minister.
While Carney seeks to deepen his focus on economic diversification, he must manage ongoing concerns of transnational repression from India, the unravelling of which led to the rupture in the relationship that the prime minister has been trying to repair.
Here is what to expect from Carney’s trip to India.
A senior government official speaking at a notfor-attribution briefing to reporters on Wednesday made a significant statement about the state of Canada’s security issues against India.
Since 2023, ministers and other officials have said it had concerns over agents of the governments of India being linked to homicides and other violence in Canada.
Asked whether it still believed that Indian government agents were involved in such crimes, a senior government official said, “we have a very robust diplomatic engagement, including between national security advisors. And I think we can say we’re confident that that activity is not continuing, or we would not be having this type of discussion.”
That same day, Sikh groups gathered on Parliament Hill to decry Carney’s trip for the message it sent to the community, particularly those involved in proKhalistan activism, who say they remain targets of India’s.
The Word Sikh Organization issued a statement after the briefing by officials to reject their assessment:
“I can say with complete conviction that the claim made by this senior government official is utterly false. It does not align with what Sikh Canadians are experiencing on the ground and what we are seeing firsthand,” said its president, Danish Singh in a statement. “Nothing has been presented publicly to suggest that Indian criminal networks have been
dismantled, that accountability has been secured, or that safeguards have been implemented to protect Canadian citizens. We can’t deny what we are seeing with our own eyes.” Sukh Dhaliwal, the Liberal MP whose riding was where Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in 2023, said he has been in contact with the Prime Minister’s Office to express concerns from constituents who believe that the rule of law ought to take precedence as Canada normalizes relations with India.
Earlier in the week,
told reporters that it takes the concerns of the Sikh community “very seriously,” and that senior officials from the Canadian and Indian governments speak regularly to discuss security issues, including the “rule of law.” Government officials both on Wednesday and in public at previous times have said that India has been collaborating with ongoing investigations, which Trudeau’s government had said was not the case. India has denied any involvement in Nijjar’s killing, with his envoy to Canada recently underscoring its position it was not provided with evidence at the time that accusation was made. While Carney will travel to Mumbai and New Delhi, he will not stop in Punjab, the state home to a majority of Sikhs which the pro-Khalistan movement wants to see carved out into a separate state. That breaks from the trips taken by both Trudeau and former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper who each visited Punjab.
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How to leverage B.C.'s generational opportunity to expand trade and spur economic growth
By Tamara Vrooman
As Canada’s Pacific gateway to Asia and beyond, further expanding trade and air connectivity is a key imperative for Vancouver International Airport. This is even more important as we digest B.C.’s challenging provincial budget picture released last week. As the finance minister herself stated, we cannot cut our way out of a deficit. Nor can a jurisdiction tax its way to financial prosperity. Instead, B.C. needs a renewed effort to stimulate economic growth, a big part of which includes finding new markets for our products abroad and new routes to get them there. With shifting trade and travel patterns amidst geopolitical rupture, we have already seen a significant increase in demand for new air routes and increased service from YVR, with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific, India, and the Gulf Region. Amidst a record 2025 for both cargo volumes and passengers, YVR saw more than a 15 per cent increase in traffic between Vancouver and Asia. Air cargo and the movement of highvalue exports to the region are also increasing, with further demand forecast for 2026. This complements a similar situation for marine cargo out of the Port of Vancouver. This month, I travelled to Hong Kong and Singapore as part of an Asia Pacific Foundation conference focused on further growing Canada’s trade and connectivity with the region. I met with dozens of business leaders, investors, cargo operators, and airport representatives, as well as connecting with Canadian diplomats and trade representatives on the ground.
The takeaway from these meetings was unequivocal: Canada has a generational opportunity to further our connectivity and trade with markets across the Pacific. As Prime Minister Mark Carney has said, and as outlined in the province’s Look West Strategy, Canada has what the world wants — particularly here in B.C. — from critical minerals to lumber, fresh seafood and agri-foods, high-value manufactured products, and more.
But equally clear was that a window of opportunity is just that. Although these markets recognize what Canada has to offer, we are not their only option. If we cannot deliver promptly, other countries will, and
our window will close. YVR is ready to leverage this opportunity. Thanks to investments made in airport infrastructure as well as in advancing our innovation and technology programs since the pandemic, we already have the capacity to handle more international flights and cargo. We also have the solid financial footing to make additional investments where and when needed, particularly around cargo facilities and innovative projects to further support getting more of B.C. and Canada to the world.
We are working closely with governments to ensure bilateral agreements are in place to allow for those additional air connections, something that I spoke about directly with the prime minister when he was at YVR in January. As just one example, there is currently no government-to-government agreement to allow direct air access between Canada and Vietnam, which is our largest unserved market in the region. Adding just a single direct daily flight between Vancouver and Ho Chi Minh City would generate over $54 million in economic output and
more than 300 jobs for B.C., not to mention creating more air cargo space for B.C. exports.
Multiply that over more routes and destinations, and the benefits for B.C. add up quickly. That is why we are also engaged with B.C.’s business community and other stakeholders to ensure we are focused on the right destinations to support their trade and economic ambitions now and into the future. But this is just a start. Success will require a tangible, collective effort, and an unprecedented sense of urgency from across our economy. Government, First Nations, and business leaders all have a role to play, as do our airports, ports, rail, and other transportation infrastructure.
Canada, with B.C. as the Pacific gateway, truly has a generational opportunity in front of us. By taking prompt, decisive steps to leverage the market potential from these emerging regions, we can pivot away from the challenging financial picture tabled in Victoria last week toward a new era of economic prosperity. But only if we act to seize it.
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The dispute led to tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions, disruptions to consular services and a freeze in trade talks. In June last year, the two sides agreed to restore consular operations after Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Alberta.
“While underlying sensitivities linger in both countries, Indo-Canadian ties are too important to be in cold storage for too long,” said Uday Chandra, a political-science professor at Ashoka University in the Indian state of Haryana.
“Carney is pragmatic. The Modi regime is keen on a reset too.” As middle powers, both nations shared similar views on the need for a more multipolar world, Chandra added.
Carney’s visit to India comes amid lingering trade tensions between Canada and the United States, particularly over Washington’s tariffs and Ottawa’s outreach to Beijing. In January, Carney made the first official visit to China by a Canadian prime minister in eight years, with both sides announcing a “new strategic partnership”, including reduced tariffs on Canadian canola and Chinese electric vehicles.
Last month, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose 100 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports if Ottawa and Beijing were to sign a trade deal – a scenario Carney and his ministers have said is not on the cards.
Since taking office in March last year, Carney has made diversifying Canada’s global trade relationships a cornerstone of his economic agenda. In November, he met Modi on the sidelines of the G20 summit in South Africa., where both leaders agreed to work towards doubling two-way trade to C$70 billion (US$51 billion) by 2030.
“Both countries have strong incentives to revive trade talks. Canada seeks to diversify beyond
the US market, while India is looking for stable markets, technology partnerships and reliable sources of energy and critical minerals,” said Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative. In 2024, trade in physical goods between Canada and India came to C$13.3 billion (US$9.7 billion), according to the most recent official figures from Ottawa.
“As the two economies trade largely in complementary goods rather than competing products, the relationship has strong growth potential and is unlikely to be disrupted by shortterm political fluctuations,” Srivastava said.
India’s main exports to Canada included pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, textiles and machinery, while Canada primarily shipped timber, pulp and paper, and mining products, he added.
The two countries also have deep educational links, with more than 200 institutional partnerships and over 319,000 Indian students enrolled in Canadian universities.
Analysts say Carney’s visit could spur investment and cooperation in clean energy, agri-food trade, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and logistics.
Canada is expected to agree to supply India with uranium, liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas during the visit, according to media reports.
A uranium supply deal would enhance India’s energy security while giving Canada access to a major new market as it sought to diversify its energy exports, Srivastava said. In December, India’s parliament approved legislation allowing domestic and foreign companies to build, own and operate nuclear power plants in the country.
Any new accords with Canada would mirror India’s push to diversify trade ties following its interim tariff and trade agreement with the US earlier this month.
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Princess Margaret Cancer Centre was again recognized as Canada’s leading oncology hospital and ranked among the top 10 globally in Newsweek’s World’s Best Specialized Hospitals list.
Best Hospitals in Canada – 2026
Newsweek also ranked the best hospitals in each country, with 73 hospitals on the list. The publication also lists specialized hospitals, which have been recommended without a rank.
1. University Health Network – Toronto General Hospital, Toronto – 90.02% (Score)
2. Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto – 86.31%
3. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto – 84.96%
4. North York General Hospital, Toronto –82.99%
5. Montreal General Hospital – McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Montreal – 82.89%
6. St. Michael’s Hospital – Unity Health Toronto, Toronto – 82.48%
7. Toronto Western – University Health Network, Toronto – 80.13%
8. Jewish General Hospital, Montreal – 80.12%
9. Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver –80.11%
10. Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal – 80.08%
11. Royal Victoria Hospital – McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Montreal – 78.11%
12. The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa – 77.69%
13. McMaster University Medical Centre –Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton –75.78%
14. Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary – 75.75%
15. Saskatoon City Hospital, Saskatoon – 75.74%
16. Rockyview General Hospital, Calgary –75.55%
17. UBC Hospital, Vancouver – 73.72%
18. Peter Lougheed Centre, Calgary – 72.94%
19. Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton –72.93%
20. Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria – 72.88%
21. Queensway Carleton Hospital, Ottawa –72.86%
22. Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax – 72.83%
23. Lachine Hospital – McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Lachine – 72.81%
24. CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City – 72.76%
25. Victoria General Hospital (VGH), Victoria –72.75%
68. Centenary Hospital – Scarborough Health Network, Scarborough – 70.46%
69. Lions Gate Hospital, North Vancouver –70.38%
70. St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital, St. Thomas – 70.30%
71. South Health Campus – Alberta Health Services, Calgary – 70.27%
72. University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UHNBC), Prince George – 70.15%
73. Guelph General Hospital, Guelph – 70.03% Specialists Hospitals
Alberta Children’s Hospital, Calgary –Pediatrics
BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver – Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), Ottawa – Pediatrics CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal – Pediatrics Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto – Pediatrics Montreal Children’s Hospital – McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Montreal –Pediatrics
The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto – Oncology
The “World’s Best Hospitals 2026” ranking, evaluated over 2,500 hospitals across 32 countries, at a time when the global hospital count is projected to approach 216,000: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Rankings were based on four weighted sources: hospital quality metrics (40 percent), peer recommendations (30 percent national and 5 percent international), patient experience data (18.5 percent), and PROMs implementation (6.5 percent), which measures how hospitals use standardized patient-reported outcome tools.
Canada announces $1.4 billion military aid package for Ukraine, expands sanctions against Russia
On the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion, Canada announced a new military package worth C$2 billion ($ 1.4 billion) for Ukraine and introduced additional sanctions against Russia.
According to the Canadian government's Feb. 24 press release, the funding allocated for the 202627 fiscal year is intended to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities and support its armed forces in defending against the ongoing Russian invasion.
As part of the package, Ottawa will provide 400 armored vehicles, including 66 Light Armored Vehicles produced by General Dynamics and 383 Senator armored personnel carriers manufactured by Canadian company Roshel.
Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty also announced the extension of Operation UNIFIER, Canada's training programme for Ukrainian troops, for an additional three years until 2029.
Beyond military assistance, Foreign Affairs
Minister Anita Anand said, Canada would contribute an additional $20 million to Ukraine's Energy Support Fund to help procure critical equipment for the country's energy sector, which has been relentlessly targeted by Russian attacks.
Canada also imposed sanctions on 21 individuals, 53 entities, and 100 vessels linked to Russia's so-called shadow fleet used to circumvent oil export restrictions. Ottawa also lowered the price cap on Russian crude oil from $47.6 to $44.1 per barrel in coordination with international partners.
"As Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine continues, Canada remains steadfast in defending Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russia must be held accountable for the damage, destruction, and loss caused by its unprovoked aggression," Foreign Affairs
Minister Anita Anand said.Canada has remained one of Ukraine's key military supporters since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, providing weapons, training, financial assistance, and sustained sanctions pressure against Moscow.
B.C. residents describe cartel violence while stuck in Mexico
As the smoke begins to clear on a war between the Mexican government and the cartel, North Okanagan residents are providing on-the-ground insight on the conflict while waiting for safe passage home.
It hasn’t been the honeymoon Ryan Sheepwash and Jeremy Alexander had imagined. The Vernon couple got married in Puerto Vallarta a week ago. On Feb. 19 they moved to a new hotel in the city for their honeymoon. They were about to head to the airport to return home on Sunday, Feb. 22, but their plans were halted when mayhem broke out in the city’s streets.
Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), and six others were killed Sunday in a security operation by the Mexican Army in Tapalpa, Jalisco.
In retaliation, cartel members began torching businesses in Puerto Vallarta and many other communities, and set fire to hijacked cargo trucks, buses, and private vehicles to obstruct traffic routes.
Sheepwash has spent time living in and visiting Puerto Vallarta and was tapped into a number of local group chats, which quickly began pouring out on-the-ground information as the cartel attacks erupted on Sunday.
“(The cartel) lit cars on fire on all the major routes to get out, basically shutting down all of Puerto Vallarta for transportation,” said Sheepwash.
“So we were basically scrambling, looking for a way to get to the airport because we had a booked confirmed flight.” Even a water taxi that would have taken them directly to the airport was disabled by a car bomb blaze along that route.
It soon became clear that the airport would be shut down Sunday. It remained closed until Monday afternoon, but Sheepwash said even then, airlines were hesitant to send planes to it before knowing the full scope of the situation. WestJet sent the couple two pieces of correspondence instructing travellers to heed local government instructions.
Government officials were telling people to stay indoors and off the streets. At Sheepwash and Alexander’s hotel, the front gates were barricaded.
B.C.'s PST on cost of security services, accounting could bankrupt small businesses, advocates say
The B.C. government’s decision to expand the provincial sales tax to services, such as bookkeeping and security, has the potential to bankrupt small businesses, warn business and public safety advocates.
The government’s budget last week announced it would be charging PST on up to 30 per cent of the cost of professional services, saying it keeps B.C. in step with other provinces. Ryan Mitton, B.C. legislative director for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said the changes add a burden to businesses already struggling as a result of the economic downturn and the rise in theft and property crime.
He says businesses need support to deal with these costs, not added taxes.
“There’s been an outpouring of frustration, because the No. 1 thing businesses didn’t need going into this budget was another new tax,” said Mitton. “We’ve heard from small businesses that are spending thousands of dollars a month on security and a seven per cent increase is a huge hit when your bill is in the tens of thousands of dollars.”
He said the complicated nature of PST compliance is another burden that small businesses often complain about and that adding another layer to it will only increase the time they have to spend doing paperwork, with costs passed to customers.
Caren McSherry, the owner of Gourmet Warehouse on East Hastings in Vancouver, said she is already spending over $7,000 a month to ensure her store has security seven days a week. She said that she can bear the costs because of the size of her business, but knows many of her small business colleagues cannot.
“I’ve voiced my opinions so many times, and it falls on deaf ears, and pretty soon, there won’t be any more privately owned businesses left because
they haven’t got the wherewithal to survive,” said McSherry, adding that a lot of her colleagues have had to close their businesses.
“I’m large enough that I can survive for now. Who knows how long? I mean, we will keep going until we can’t. But I don’t know what to say. The climate in B.C. is not favourable to business.”
Although the government did earmark $139 million more for public safety in this year’s budget, that is not enough to address the scale of the problem, says Jess Ketchum of the Save Our Streets Coalition. He said that adding an additional tax is just piling it on businesses.
“So many small businesses, as you all know, are fighting for their very existence right now. As they represent the largest employment block in B.C., we should all be concerned about that,” said Ketchum. “Sixty-three per cent … say they wouldn’t even go into business if given the opportunity to do it again. That’s pretty chilling when you think about all those people who go into small business with so many hopes and aspirations, and the number of jobs they create, the investment they generate, the tax revenue they generate.” It isn’t just added security costs that are causing headaches. Many businesses are also reliant on other services such as accounting.
Allen Hewitt, owner of North Western Property Management, says his company spends around $20,000 on accounting annually and that the PST will add about $1,400.
Brother of Tumbler Ridge shooter arrested after Canada-wide warrant issued, RCMP say
Jacob Jan Van Rootselaar, the older brother of Tumbler Ridge shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar, has been arrested and charged, Alberta RCMP confirmed Tuesday.
The 22-year-old was arrested on Thursday in Sylvan Lake, Alberta, on an “outstanding Canada Wide arrest warrant from a 2024 Fort McMurray attempted murder investigation,” Cpl. Troy Savinkoff told National Post over email.
Jacob was scheduled to appear in court in Red Deer on Monday. He has additionally been charged with two counts of weapon offences and five counts of failure to comply with release conditions.
“He has been taken before a Justice of the Peace and remanded into custody for court at the Alberta Court of Justice in Red Deer,” Savinkoff said.
The massacre in the quiet community of Tumbler Ridge, B.C., on Feb. 10 was one of the worst mass shootings in Canadian history, killing five students and a teacher. Two surviving victims, Maya Gebala, 12, and Paige Hoekstra, 19, were taken to the hospital. Although Paige was later released, Maya remains in the hospital. On Saturday, her family revealed that the 12-year-old went through an emergency surgery.
“This update show just how critical Maya is with her injury,” Krysta Hunt, cousin of Maya’s mother Cia, said in an update on GoFundMe. “Please keep her in your thoughts. I believe it’s helped her this far.”
The shooter’s mother, 39, and half-brother, 11, were shot at home and were the shooter’s first two victims. The 18-year-old shooter was also found dead with self-inflicted gunshot wounds after carrying out the mass shooting.
“The BC RCMP offers sincere condolences to the families who have lost loved ones, and to the entire Tumbler Ridge community that is grieving alongside them,” Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, BC RCMP Commanding Officer, said on Feb. 12. “This is a time of deep sorrow, and many are still processing the weight of this tragedy.
OpenAI says Tumbler Ridge shooter would be flagged to police today
OpenAI says its recently-enhanced safety criteria would have flagged the Tumbler Ridge mass shooter’s online behaviour to police if discovered today, but is committing to making further improvements after a meeting with federal ministers.
That includes improving its repeat violator detection system after a second ChatGPT account linked to the shooter was discovered following the tragedy, the company revealed in a letter to ministers Thursday.
but that there may be potential risk of imminent violence,” she wrote.
“With the benefit of our continued learnings, under our enhanced law enforcement referral protocol, we would refer the account banned in June 2025 to law enforcement if it were discovered today.”
Global News has asked OpenAI exactly when those changes were put in place. It did not answer similar questions Wednesday after multiple requests for comment.
OpenAI has faced criticism and calls for regulation after it was revealed that the company flagged and banned an account in June 2025 belonging to the shooter who killed eight people in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., more than seven months later. However, the account wasn’t referred to RCMP until after the shooting because the company did not identify “credible or imminent planning” for real-world violence last summer.
In the letter, OpenAI’s vice-president of global policy Ann O’Leary said the company had already taken steps to improve its criteria for warning authorities “several months ago” based on guidance from mental health, behavioural and law enforcement experts.
The changes made the threshold for a police referral “more flexible to account for the fact that a user may not discuss the target, means, and timing of planned violence in a ChatGPT conversation
The federal government is considering increasing the police presence in Tumbler Ridge following the deadly mass school shooting earlier this month.
“We are pushing for more police resources in all of British Columbia and across Canada,” Staff Sgt. Jeff Swann, Pacific director for the National Police Federation, told Global News.
“The resourcing issue is huge. Years and years and years, governments have slashed police budgets and not hired more officers. And that’s the dilemma that we’re facing right now.”
The small community of Tumbler Ridge has five RCMP officers stationed there.
On Feb. 10, Jesse VanRootselaar shot and killed eight people — her mother and half-brother at her house and five students and an education assistant
at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
“I need to be very clear, the resourcing issue in Tumbler Ridge did not cause or lead to any problems in Tumbler Ridge,” Swann said. Unit commander Sgt. Bill Hughes, a 21-year RCMP veteran, and Const. Nick Gachter, who has five years of service, were the first officers on scene in Tumbler Ridge on Feb. 10.
Const. Jonathan Kohut, who has served for eight years, and Const. Tyler Noon, an 11-year veteran of the force, suited up as quickly as possible and rushed to the school to assist.
RCMP officers from neighbouring communities also raced to help. “That’s part of the message is that they are heroes and what they did was incredibly brave,” Swann said.
The company said Thursday it is committing to working with the federal government and experts to continue strengthening its police referral criteria “based on the Tumbler Ridge tragedy and the Canadian context.”
“This will include continuing to analyze how imminent and credible risk is assessed and transparency regarding our reporting to law enforcement,”
O’Leary said. The letter comes after OpenAI representatives met with Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon in Ottawa on Tuesday at his request. Justice Minister Sean Fraser, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree and Culture and Identity Minister Marc Miller were also present at the meeting.
Ministers said afterward they were “disappointed” with what they heard in the meeting and had made clear they expected to hear about “concrete actions” the company would take in the coming days.
OpenAI said it would also enhance its system that detects repeat policy violators, after it discovered a second account linked to 18-year-old Jesse VanRootselaar following police identifying her as the shooter in Tumbler Ridge.
The system is meant to catch “those who have had their ChatGPT accounts shut down for violating our violent activities policy, and then seek to create a new account,” O’Leary wrote.
BC Helps Parents Boost their
City of Surrey sets aside $200 million for new 10,000-seat indoor arena
The City of Surrey is looking to make a major capital contribution towards the cost of building its new 10,000-seat indoor arena in Surrey City Centre.
According to the municipal government’s newly released budget plan, the five-year, 2026-2030 capital plan includes almost $200 million over five years specifically for building the arena.
This only represents the City’s public funding for the project — it does not include any potential additional contributions from private partners and other entities.
It is also the first time the municipal government has publicly revealed how much it is willing to contribute to the project, which will anchor the newly designated entertainment district area in Surrey City Centre. The project is a key priority for Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke to further catalyze the potential growth of Surrey’s emerging downtown.
With 10,000 seats, it would be British Columbia’s third-highest-spectator-capacity indoor arena after Rogers Arena and Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. Earlier this winter, the City launched the bidding process seeking a private developer, operator, and sports tenants for the mixed-use project with the arena, which is eyed to replace City-owned site of the BC Lions’ longtime training facility at 10605 City Parkway — the northeast corner of the intersection of University Drive and 105A Avenue, just south of SkyTrain’s Gateway Station and Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre and east of Whalley
Athletic Park.
As part of the mixed-use project, there would also be a hotel, conference and meeting space, retail and restaurant space, and residential uses.
“Contract negotiations with private sector partners are expected to result in development agreements for the construction of various private sector opportunities adjacent to or integrated with the arena,” states this week’s budget proposal.
“It is expected that the revenue generated from development agreements, tenanting of the arena and the sale of naming and other commercial/ marketing rights will assist in funding the construction, operation, and maintenance of the arena.” The capital plan states the municipal government’s cash flow funding for the arena portion of the mixed-use project is $20 million in 2026, $45 million in each of 2027, 2028, and 2029, and $43 million in 2030. The City will create a shortlist of proponents by March 3, 2026, inviting them to participate in the request for proposals (RFP) stage of submitting a detailed bid package.
Surrey city hall projects 35% voter turnout in October election
Surrey city staff figure the October 17 general election will cost taxpayers about $3,448,004 and also project there will be 352,148 registered voters, 123,252 ballots cast and a voter turnout of 35 per cent.
That’s the funding as set out in the City of Surrey’s 2026 corporate services department operating budget, including a five per cent contingency. Joey Brar, Surrey’s general manager of corporate service, is a report that came before council on Monday indicated the city is “well positioned to deliver a legally compliant and positive election experience for voters.”
Surrey residents elect a new council and school board every four years. The last one, in 2022, saw 339,640 registered voters and recorded 118,908 ballots cast with a turnout of 34.5 per cent. Brar said city hall typically begins election planning two years in advance “to provide adequate time to evaluate technologies, secure facilities and enhance processes.”
This election is projected to see a 3.7 per cent increase in eligible voters over the last one. “Based on growth and historical trends, turnout for 2026 is projected to remain consistent at approximately 35 per cent, with operational capacity in place to accommodate significantly higher volumes, if required,” Brar reports.
He noted that advance voting opportunities in 2022 were “well received,” with the turnout increasing by more than 60 per cent over the
The deadline for the RFP submission is May 22, 2026, and the contract award will be made in August 2026. After the selection of the successful proponent, the City will create the first detailed plans later in 2026 to show how the arena and surrounding buildings could look and fit on the development site. The outcome of this procurement process will also determine the arena’s ownership and operating structure. Surrey
2018 election. “Building on that success, the 2026 election will feature expanded advance voting options, including advance voting opportunities in each town centre to make voting more convenient and accessible,” Brar says. There were 288 advance polling hours in 2022 across six locations and for 2026 this will increase to 480 across ten locations, making for a 67 per cent increase in advance voting hours. “By expanding advance voting across more locations, residents will have greater flexibility to vote at a time and place that works for them. This expansion is expected to reduce the number of voters casting ballots on general voting day, helping to minimize wait times and create a better voting experience,” Brar explained.
The 2026 advance voting schedule is Wednesday, October 7, Saturday, October 10, Wednesday, October 14, and Thursday, October 15, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with advance polling locations at Kwantlen Park Secondary School (Whalley), Guildford Recreation Centre (Guildford), Fraser Heights Recreation Centre (Guildford), Fleetwood Community Centre (Fleetwood), Princess Margaret Secondary School (Newton), Frank Hurt Secondary School (Newton), Ecole Panorama Ridge Secondary School (Newton), Cloverdale Recreation Centre (Cloverdale), Semiahmoo Secondary School (South Surrey), and Earl Marriott Secondary School (South Surrey). Eligible voters can also request a mail ballot up to a deadline to be determined by the chief election officer.
Extortion-related shootings forcing Surrey business owners to rethink decisions
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Swift radio host, Jinny Sims, said it’s not just spending habits that have changed.
“I would say the business community is thinking twice about reinvesting and maybe looking outside of B.C.,” she said.
A new community advisory group is now working with police to improve coordination, but until then, the impact on the local economy is still being felt. As of Monday, Feb. 23, there have been 56 reported extortions in Surrey, 11 cases involving shots fired, two arsons and 32 victims, 18 of whom are repeat victims, according to Surrey police.
On Wednesday, on the eve of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s official visit to Mumbai and New Delhi, a senior official said the government believed India was no longer plotting attacks on Canadians.
The official’s comments at a press background briefing were the first to suggest India had halted the clandestine operations that Canada has linked to a murder and other
violence.
Canadian national security agencies believe India began a campaign in 2022 to kill activists in North America who support Khalistan, an independent state in the Sikh-majority Punjab. Among those allegedly targeted was Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was gunned down in June 2023 as he was leaving the Surrey, B.C., temple where he served as president.
The RCMP believes the Indian government tapped gang leader Lawrence Bishnoi to arrange the murder. An Indian intelligence officer was also implicated in a plot to kill another Canadian in the U.S.
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Anyone with information on Lovebir Singh or the extortion crisis is asked to call the SPS non-emergency number, 604-599-0502, the extortion tip line at 236-485-5149 or make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers, 1-800-222-8477 or solvecrime.ca.
In September, a reward fund of $250,000 was established to offer people with key information about extortions a chance to be rewarded if charges
and convictions are secured in an extortion case. Surrey police have also begun compiling statistics on extortions across the city. The numbers are publicly available at a website dedicated to extortion threats and what Surrey police are doing about them. Go to surreypolice.ca/ extortions and scroll down to the stats. So far, there are numbers for incidents since 2024. The data will be updated weekly.
Woman being questioned in relation to the death of a hotel acting manager in Nadi
Police are questioning a woman in relation to the death of a 40-year-old Acting Manager of Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa whose body was discovered in December 2024. The man was found with stab wounds inside a bathroom of a room at the hotel, located along
Saweni man attacked
A 54-YEAR-old man who was seriously injured in a kidnap attempt has been admitted at the Lautoka hospital.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed that three people linked to the incident have been arrested as investigations continue.
His daughter was also kidnapped but managed to escape from a moving car.
Wailoaloa Road in Nadi. Investigations had stalled as Police had no concrete leads back then. The woman who was taken for questioning this week was known to the deceased. Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed the detention of the woman for questioning.
Alleged plot revealed
Several senior military officers were allegedly approached by former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho between July 1 and July 31, 2023, in a joint effort to incite them to unlawfully arrest and take over the authority of RFMF Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai.
1 and July 31, 2023, sent Viber messages in Suva to Brigadier General Manoa Gadai, attempting to incite him to take over command or overthrow the authority of the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai.
The two men fronted the Suva Magistrate’s Court for the first time yesterday before Magistrate Yogesh Prasad. Mr Bainimarama faces one count of inciting to mutiny.
According to the charge sheet, Count One alleges that Mr Bainimarama, between January
Mr Bainimarama and Mr Qiliho are jointly charged under Count Two. It is alleged that between July 1 and July 31, 2023, the duo spoke to Lieutenant Colonel Atunaisa Vakatale, Colonel Aseri Rokoura, Colonel Viliame Draunibaka, and other senior RFMF officers in Suva, in an attempt to incite them to unlawfully arrest and take over the authority of the RFMF Commander.
The charges were laid under the Criminal Procedure Act and filed as a complaint by a public officer.
Given the offence is indictable but triable summarily, the two opted to be tried in the lower court. Both men were released on bail with strict conditions, including that they must not reoffend while on bail.
Unusua Time to end FICAC: Prime Minister
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says the Government will begin reforms to abolish the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), arguing that its functions duplicate those already carried out by established state institutions.
He revealed this to The Fiji Times in an interview in Cakaudrove today.
Speaking on the proposed changes, Mr Rabuka said Fiji already has the necessary investigative and prosecutorial mechanisms in place.
“We want to make it simpler,” he said.
“We already have the police for investigations, police prosecutions, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. There’s really no need for a special investigating and prosecuting arm of government when you already have established ones.”
The Prime Minister indicated that the move is part of a broader effort to reverse what he described as flawed decisions made in the past.
is already underway.
“We’ll be starting right now with the formulation of the bills,” he said.
“There are two things that have to be amended — the Act itself and the relevant provisions in the Constitution.”
Mr Rabuka said the proposed amendments would be taken to Parliament, where both changes to the FICAC Act and constitutional
“Yes, eventually that will have to happen,” Mr Rabuka said.
“Because if we don’t, we are perpetuating the bad decisions made by the previous government.”
He confirmed that work on legislative reforms
Defence lawyer argues possible breach of rules
A High Court hearing in a case involving former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama was told yesterday that a State prosecutor may have breached a fundamental rule of litigation by swearing an affidavit in a case she is prosecuting.
Concerns were raised over Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Laisani Tabuakuro deposing affidavits instead of an investigating officer in proceedings also involving former attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and former health minister Neil Sharma. Defence lawyer Devanesh Sharma told the court Ms Tabuakuro had sworn an affidavit of amendment, arguing a fundamental rule in litigation that a lawyer on record is not entitled to
Late constable
amendments would be debated as part of the Government’s reform agenda.
Details on the timing of the legislative process and the transitional arrangements for ongoing cases are yet to be announced.
depose to an affidavit in the same matter.
Mr Sharma said that under the High Court Civil Rules, lawyers who depose to affidavits are immediately removed from acting in the matter, and sought clarification on whether the same principle applies within the criminal jurisdiction. He also objected to proposed amendments to certain charges, particularly changes to the dates aimed at better particularising the offences, describing the amendment itself as an “embarrassment”. Mr Sharma submitted that one of the charges, being a summary offence, ought to have been laid within 12 months of 2012 and not 13 years later.
took part in Delainavesi drug operation
Police have confirmed that the late Police Constable Peniasi Ravagi was part of a team that carried out drug raids in Delainavesi prior to his death. Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu, speaking at a press conference, said three homes were raided in Delainavesi as part of an anti-drug operation.
However, he stressed that no formal complaints were lodged against officers from the Lami Police Station in relation to the raids.
“I can confirm that the late Peniasi was involved in the raid, but at this stage there is no correlation between his death and what transpired in Delainavesi,” the Commissioner said.
He added that investigators are still working to determine whether any threats were made against the officer and whether such threats, if uncovered, could have led to his killing. When questioned about support available to officers who participate in high-risk operations and may receive threats, Commissioner Tudravu said the force has internal investigative mechanisms and specialised units to respond.
He confirmed that a technical unit and the Police Mobile Force are available to support frontline officers, adding that operational teams are continuing their work as investigations into the constable’s death progress.
Fire damages Nadi school office and library
The school office block and library at Andrews Primary School in Nadi were badly damaged by a fire early this morning, prompting the postponement of scheduled school activities.
In a message shared on social media, Head Teacher Dharmendra Reddy informed parents and guardians of the incident, describing it as “very sad news” for the school community.
“Our school office block and library has been badly damaged by fire early this morning,” Mr Reddy said.
As a result of the damage, the prefects’ induction programme that was scheduled for today has been postponed until further notice.
No further details were provided on the cause of the fire or whether anyone was injured.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2026
Pakistan declares 'open war' on Afghanistan
Cross-border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan escalated sharply on Friday, with Islamabad declaring "open war" on Kabul after carrying out airstrikes in parts of Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, further intensifying tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
Afghanistan and began exporting terrorism. They deprived their own people of basic human rights. They snatched away the rights that Islam grants to women," his post read.
In a post on X, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif issued a strong statement declaring the "open war" against Afghanistan, stating that Islamabad has lost its patience and accusing the Taliban-led administration of harbouring militants.
"After the withdrawal of NATO forces, it was expected that there would be peace in Afghanistan and that the Taliban would focus on the interests of the Afghan people and peace in the region... They gathered all the terrorists of the world in
"Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you. Now it will be 'Dama Dam Mast Qalandar'. Pakistan's army did not come from across the seas. We are your neighbours; we know your ins and outs. Allahu Akbar," the Pakistani Defence Minister added.
Following the Pakistani strikes on Afghan soil, Afghanistan's spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, condemned the attack, calling the act by the Pakistani military "cowardly".
"The cowardly Pakistani military has carried out airstrikes in certain areas of Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia; fortunately, there have been no reported casualties," Mujahid said in a statement on X.
The escalation comes amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and the Talibanled administration in Kabul over cross-border security concerns along the Durand Line, which has remained a topic of dispute between the two countries.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defence of Afghanistan said that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory operations carried out along the Durand Line on Thursday.
Afghan
SOUTH
forces kill 55 Pakistani soldiers, Pakistan retaliates with Operation 'Ghazab Lil Haq'
The Ministry of National Defence of Afghanistan said that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory operations carried out along the Durand Line on Thursday.
The 2,611 km border between the two countries has never been officially recognised by Afghanistan.
In a press release, the ministry said the action was launched at 8 pm on the 9th of Ramadan, corresponding to February 26, in response to what it described as a violation of Afghan territory by Pakistani military forces days earlier.
"A few days ago, the Pakistani military circles, with great audacity, violated Afghan territory, breached our borders, and martyred women and children here," the statement read.
The ministry said that Afghan forces targeted Pakistani military posts in the eastern and southeastern directions along the Durand Line, near the provinces of Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan.
"In these retaliatory operations along the Durand Line, 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, two bases and 19 posts were captured," the statement said.
It stated that the four-hour operation resulted in the destruction of two Pakistani military bases and 19 posts, while soldiers fled from four other posts.
The ministry also claimed that an enemy tank was destroyed and a large military transport vehicle was captured.
"During these operations, dozens of light and heavy weapons, ammunition, and military supplies were seized by Afghan forces," it said.
The statement added that eight Afghan fighters were killed and 11 injured during the operation. It also
alleged that 13 civilians were injured in a missile attack on a refugee camp in Nangarhar.
"In this retaliatory operation, eight of our Mujahideen achieved the high status of martyrdom, and 11 were injured," the ministry said.
Meanwhile, in retaliation, Pakistan initiated the 'Ghazab Lil Haq' operation targeting the Afghan Taliban regime, as reported by ARY News.
Prime Minister's spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi confirmed that 133 Afghan Taliban fighters have been killed and over 200 wounded. The operations have also destroyed 27 Taliban posts and captured nine, as reported by Geo News.
Pakistani security forces carried out retaliatory operations across multiple border areas, including Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram, and Bajaur districts, destroying several Afghan Taliban posts, ARY News reported. Earlier, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that the Pakistani military carried out airstrikes in parts of Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia.
In a post on X, Mujahid said, "The cowardly Pakistani military has carried out airstrikes in certain areas of Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia; fortunately, there have been no reported casualties."
Accused arrested, another shot at in encounter in Gurdaspur cops' killing case
One of the three accused in the killing of a Gurdaspur ASI and a home guard jawan, Ranjit Singh, was killed in a police encounter near Puranashala, 8 km from Gurdaspur on the Gurdaspur-Mukerian road near Tibri cantonment.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Aditya said the second accused has been arrested, while the third, Inderjeet Singh, had escaped. The police are not disclosing the name of the second accused.
During the encounter, CIA SHO Gurmeet Singh has sustained injuries in his arm and has been admitted to Gurdaspur Civil Hospital. The three suspects are said to be involved in the killing of ASI Gurnam Singh and home guard jawan Ashok Kumar at the Adhian checkpost near the
International border (IB).
The police had taken into custody family members of Rajit Singh from Adhian, following which he surrendered. Ranjit’s father is serving a jail term in Saudi Arabia. DIG Border Sandeep Goel will be holding a press conference soon.
IAS officer’s secretary jumps from 7th floor of Haryana Secretariat building in Chandigarh
The secretary of an IAS officer on Wednesday jumped from the seventh floor of the Haryana Secretariat building here and died.
Ganesh Arora served as Special Senior Secretary to IAS officer Hitesh Meena.
Arora jumped from the seventh-floor terrace of the secretariat around 12.30 pm and died on the spot. Eyewitnesses said Arora was in office before he suddenly left without informing anyone.
Police have sent the body to the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, for postmortem. Sources said Arora was to retire in October.
Governor approves Chandigarh Housing Board policy on need-based changes
Providing relief to thousands of occupants of Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) houses, Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria today approved the recommendations of committee constituted to review the need-based changes order dated January 3, 2023.
Earlier, a high-level committee, constituted by the UT Administration under the chairmanship of Secretary, Estate, UT, had undertaken a comprehensive review of the consolidated 2023 order. The exercise was carried out in light of the Supreme Court’s judgment dated January 10, 2023, directing freezing of the floor area ratio (FAR), along with representations received from stakeholders and the prevailing ground realities.
The committee reviewed the need-based changes policy of January 2023 of the CHB. Over 10 days ago, it recommended that the policy be implemented with certain exclusions. The Administrator today approved the
recommendations of the committee.
Further, the CHB has been directed to start the implementation of Clauses 2-21, 24, 26-28 of the 2023 order with immediate effect. Out of the 28 clauses, the committee dropped four clauses of the policy. The committee has rejected the construction of balconies projecting up to three feet across the full width of front and rear courtyards where none existed originally, citing structural safety concerns. The committee also cited practical constraints in installing rooftop solar panels across all CHB dwelling units. Although the 2023 policy permitted solar installations subject to consent from residents and structural safety certification, the panel noted that structural limitations make such installations unfeasible in several buildings.
The committee also turned down replacement of the front courtyard brick boundary walls, wherever provided in the CHB houses, with flexible/sliding gates at the same location.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann in Bengaluru for week-long naturopathy treatment
A week after he was discharged from hospital, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has left for Bengaluru for a seven-day naturopathy treatment, sources said on Thursday.
Mann (52) is staying at a private nature care centre. He left for Bengaluru on Wednesday evening after inaugurating the first phase of reconstruction and relining of the Ferozepur Feeder Canal, the source said.
The Chief Minister was hospitalised at a private hospital in Mohali after he experienced exhaustion.
On February 15, he was brought to the hospital from Sangrur after he felt unwell.
He was discharged the next day, after which he attended an event of the state government’s anti-drug drive ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ in Moga. However, he was re-admitted to the hospital the
same day after experiencing exhaustion again. Mann was discharged from the hospital on February 19.
How budget fast fashion is taking small-town India by storm
At a gleaming three-storey outlet of Reliance Trends in the town of Sangli in western India, Alka browses through a collection of Indian ethnic-wear kurtas in an array of vibrant colours.
A geriatric care worker in her late 50s, she is looking for a design in a particular shade of baby pink with a dull gold paisley motif.
"I saw someone wearing it at my workplace and I loved it so much, I immediately wanted to buy one for my daughter," Alka told the BBC.
at the same price point as the bazaar, but with a vastly improved shopping experience.
In these outlets, most merchandise costs between $4 (£2.90) and $15. "Plus, the designs are contemporary and there's a growing desire among people to wear branded clothes," Pankaj Kumar, a retail analyst at Mumbai-based Kotak Securities, told the BBC. This explosion in the number of valueconscious yet aspirational consumers, especially in smaller towns, is driving extraordinary bottomline growth in the country's organised fastfashion industry, led by brands such as Max, Vishaal Mega Mart, Trends and Zudio.
Across its three floors, the outlet has racks displaying all kinds of trendy apparel, from funky printed t-shirts and weathered jeans to formal office wear for men and women and in-house labels selling Indian or fusion mix-and-match clothes.
On display are also make-up kits, sneakers, handbags and costume jewellery.
Shopping here in the air-conditioned comfort of the store, with trial rooms, attendants and scratch cards offering discounts on her next purchase, is a refreshingly new experience for Alka.
Like most Indians, she has only ever hunted for white label bargains in street-side bazaars all her life
However, budget brands like Trends - run by Isha Ambani, heiress to the Reliance Industries retail empire founded by Asia's richest man, Mukesh Ambani - and Tata's Zudio are now offering goods
Quarterly numbers for Trends are not publicly available, but Zudio's growth has wildly outpaced global high-street titans like Zara and H&M, as well as the Tata Group's own midto-premium range fashion brand Westside, in the past few years.
Consider these figures: in 2018, Zudio had merely seven stores across the country and clocked $12m in revenue. Westside was a much bigger brand, with 125 stores bringing in around $220m.
Today, the tables have completely turned.
Zudio's seven stores have expanded to 765, with revenues crossing $1bn by the middle of 2025making it the only Indian clothing brand to hold that distinction.
Westside on the other hand has doubled its store count, with revenue growing three-fold - but the pace of growth is nowhere near comparable.
"It's a classic bottom-of-the-pyramid strategygo big by going mass," says Kotak Securities, about Zudio's success, adding that pricing has been a key factor, given that "even affordable fashion is a luxury in India's tier-2 and tier-3 towns".
What India wants From BRICS
India’s aspirations within BRICS and its broader geopolitical ambitions are increasingly central to discussions about the future of international relations. The article highlights how recent speeches by Western leaders, such as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, reflect underlying tensions between the West and the global south.
While Rubio’s rhetoric emphasized a confrontational stance toward non-Western powers, Carney acknowledged the inherent hypocrisies of the Western-led international order. From India’s perspective, these developments underscore the need for a more equitable global system and reinforce its role as a bridging power within BRICS—a group that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
India has long sought to position itself as a mediator between the West and the global south, leveraging its historical ties with both worlds. This ambition dates back to the postcolonial era, when India began asserting its influence in international institutions.
increasing scrutiny, India sees an opportunity to advocate for a more inclusive and equitable system. By emphasizing its role as a “middle power,” India aims to balance its relationships with both Western nations and emerging powers like China. This approach not only strengthens its influence within BRICS but also positions it as a key player in the evolving multipolar world order.
For readers interested in politics, understanding
Today, India’s leadership within BRICS reflects its desire to challenge the dominance of Western powers while maintaining strategic autonomy. Its growing economic clout and geopolitical influence make it a key player in shaping the group’s agenda, particularly on issues like trade reforms, global governance, and multilateralism.
The article also explores how India’s aspirations align with broader trends in international politics.
As the rules-based international order comes under
India’s role in BRICS is crucial to grasping the shifting dynamics of global power. As the international system becomes increasingly fragmented, India’s ability to navigate these complexities will determine its long-term influence on the world stage. Whether through diplomatic efforts within BRICS or strategic partnerships with other nations, India’s leadership is poised to shape the future of global geopolitics in ways that resonate far beyond South Asia.
UK enforces digital travel system, mandatory eVisas for Indians
New rules in force from Wednesday will see the UK transition to a digital transit system, including mandatory eVisas for Indian travellers and Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for nonvisa requiring visitors.
Thenew procedure will replace paper-based visa stickers as part of a phased programme over recent years. While the new system will still involve a physical visit to the application centre for biometric registration, it will do away with the need to leave behind the passport document during the processing period.
"I'd urge anyone wanting to travel to the UK to ensure they are travel-ready and have the right permission, to make their journey much smoother," said Mike Tapp, UK Minister for Migration and Citizenship.
It will be mandatory for visitors to the UK to have obtained digital permission to travel, which means airlines can prevent passengers from boarding planes if they do not have an eVisa, ETA or other valid documentation.
The UK government had launched the eVisa system last year, with physical documents being accepted during the transition phase up until this
week. "An eVisa cannot be lost, stolen or tampered with, and allows visa holders to instantly and securely prove their immigration rights. Switching won't change, impact or remove a customer's current rights or immigration status," the Home Office said at the time.
As part of the plans to fully digitise the UK border and immigration system, all those using a physical biometric residence permit (BRP), a passport containing a visa vignette sticker or ink stamp confirming their "indefinite leave to enter/ remain" in the country, or biometric residence card (BRC) as evidence of their immigration rights have been switched over to an entirely online UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) system.
The Home Office said it has been phasing out physical documents for several years through this transition to eVisas, with over 10 million issued to date. All eVisa holders, including those with EU Settlement Scheme status, need to keep their UKVI account up to date with their most recent passport details to avoid travel disruption, it said.
Visitors of 85 nationalities, including nationals of the United States, Canada and France, who do not require visas.
This is the highest-ever cash seizure made by the anti-corruption agency, they added.
Mohanty was apprehended while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from a licensed coal vendor in exchange for facilitating smooth operations, officials said. Following his arrest, the Vigilance Department conducted simultaneous searches at his Bhubaneswar flat, his parental house in Bhadrak district, and his office in Cuttack, they said.
In addition, Rs 1.20 lakh in cash was recovered from Mohanty’s office drawer, they added.
Other assets detected so far include a palatial double-storey house in Bhubaneswar and approximately 130 gram of gold.
A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered, officials said.
The previous highest cash seizure made by the agency was Rs 3.4 crore, found at the residence of an assistant engineer in the Minor Irrigation Division in Ganjam district on April 7, 2022.
What’s the agenda of PM Modi’s Israel visit?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed in Israel for a two-day visit, his second trip to the West Asian country since 2017. This comes as India and Israel’s ties have evolved in recent years.
The PM was accorded a red-carpet welcome at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport; Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and wife, Sara, received Modi at the airport.
Modi will be in Israel as tensions roil West Asia, with a threat of the United States striking Iran looming large. Defence, trade and tech are expected to be the main features of the Indian leader’s visit.
PM Narendra Modi will be on a state visit to Israel from February 25-26. He will hold talks with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu. The two leaders will review the “significant progress made in India - Israel Strategic Partnership, and discuss further opportunities in various areas of cooperation, including science and technology, innovation, defence and security, agriculture, water management, trade and economy, and people-topeople exchanges,” according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement.
Regional and global issues of mutual interest are also expected to come up during the discussions.
PM Modi will meet his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu shortly after his arrival, and later in the day, he will address the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament) at 8 pm. In October 2015, the then-President Pranab Mukherjee had addressed the Israeli Parliament.
PM Modi will also visit a technology and innovation exhibit later this evening, before joining Netanyahu for a private dinner.
On Thursday, PM Modi will pay a visit to Yad Vashem, Israel’s official memorial, established
in 1953, to commemorate the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis. He is also expected to call upon Israeli President Isaac Herzog and interact with the Indian community. PM Modi and Netanyahu will meet for delegation-level talks.
Defence is expected to be the centrepiece of PM Modi’s visit to Israel.
The West Asian country is one of India’s biggest arms suppliers. New Delhi has been Israel’s largest defence buyer for years, accounting for 34 per cent of total sales between 2020 and 2024, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
During the Indian leader’s trip, the two countries could hold deliberations on joint development projects in areas such as anti-ballistic missile defence systems, directed-energy laser weapons, long-range stand-off missiles and next-generation drones, as per Forbes India.
It reported that Israel has given a nod to $8.6 billion in arms deals with India in 2026.
There are reports that India and Israel could sign a defence framework during PM Modi’s visit. This would result in the opening of previously restricted areas of cooperation to India, including advanced air defence systems.
Israel could offer its cutting-edge laser-based air defence platform, known as Iron Beam, to India, reported the Israeli portal CTech by Calcalist.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Israel for a two-day visit, his first since the war in Gaza began. Modi is expected to address Israel's parliament, the Knesset, and hold meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. There is no meeting with Palestinian leaders on his schedule.
The visit comes as both countries look to strengthen ties in defence, technology and trade - a relationship that has grown significantly since Modi came to power more than a decade ago.
Analysts, however, say the visit will also test India's foreign policy as it tries to balance its ties with Israel and other Middle Eastern countries. In 2017, Modi became the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel. The trip was widely seen as a turning point in the relationship. The two countries work closely on counter-terrorism and defence. India is also among the biggest buyers of Israeli arms. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called Modi's visit a "historic" one.
"The bond between Israel and India is a powerful alliance between two global leaders. We are partners in innovation, security and a shared strategic vision. Together, we are building an axis of nations committed to stability and progress," he wrote on X. Modi also responded by saying that India "deeply values the enduring friendship with Israel, built on trust, innovation and a shared commitment to peace and progress".
India has condemned the deadly 7 October Hamas-led attacks and expressed solidarity with Israel, while also voicing concern over civilian casualties in Gaza and reiterating its support for a two-state solution.
However, the visit comes at a time of heightened regional tensions. One key concern is US President Donald Trump's threat of military action against Iran and fears that any escalation could trigger a wider regional conflict. The US has been reinforcing its presence in the region in recent weeks, marking one of the largest US military
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has placed a prosecution order against former Finance Minister P Chidambaram in connection with the money laundering case of INX Media Pvt Ltd before the special Delhi PMLA court to expedite the trial in the matter.
The anti-money laundering agency had initiated investigation under PMLA, 2002, based on the FIR registered by the CBI in May 2017 against INX Media Pvt Ltd, INX News Pvt Ltd, Karti P Chidambaram and others for offences punishable under Section 120-B read with Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Sections 8, 13(2) & 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
Investigation has revealed that the erstwhile Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval was granted to INX Media Pvt Ltd during the tenure of Chidambaram as the Finance Minister. It was further revealed that, in consideration for granting and subsequently regularising the FIPB approval, illegal gratification was allegedly demanded and received through entities beneficially owned or controlled by Karti P Chidambaram, who is the former Finance Minister’s son.
The probe further revealed that such amounts were routed through shell companies, including Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt Ltd, and associated entities which were under direct or indirect control of and beneficially owned by Karti. These funds were layered and integrated through investment in shares of Vasan Health Care Pvt Ltd and AGS Health Care Pvt Ltd, and subsequently multiplied through sale of shares and overseas investments.
It was also found during the course of probe that Karti and his close associates, allegedly acted on behalf of Chidambaram, interacted with people of INX Media in connection with FIPB approval matters and allegedly collected proceeds of crime arising therefrom. The proceeds were allegedly routed through shell companies incorporated for the purpose of laundering, layered through complex transactions across multiple jurisdictions without any genuine business activity, and structured to conceal the money trail. The funds were thereafter used for deposits in bank accounts and for investment in movable and immovable properties in India and abroad in the names of shell entities and associates.
build-ups in decades, to pressure Iran to curb its nuclear programme. But analysts say the focus of Modi's visit will firmly be on bilateral engagement, and any discussion around regional tensions will probably remain behind closed doors.
Foreign affairs expert Harsh V Pant said "India wants to show that it remains committed to the partnership it has with Israel", while also "attempting to balance its priorities" in the Middle East. However, his speech has become the subject of political controversy in Israel.
The opposition has threatened to boycott Modi's address to the Knesset unless Supreme Court President Isaac Amit is invited. His reported exclusion is linked to an ongoing political dispute over judicial reforms.
The Speaker of the parliament has reportedly planned to invite former lawmakers to fill any empty seats.
In India, opposition leaders have also criticised thevisit. Jairam Ramesh, spokesperson for the Congress party, has condemned the trip and accused the Modi government of abandoning the Palestinian cause. Despite the criticism, analysts say the visit reflects India's long-term strategic calculations. Taneja says Modi's visit is "largely driven by bilateral requirements".
"India's indigenous defence technology is still lagging on many fronts, especially as warfare becomes more automated and technology driven. Given tensions with Pakistan and China, India does not have the luxury of not seeking the best technological equipment, and Israel fits that requirement very well," Taneja said.
But he also added that regional stability in the Middle East is "critically important" for India's broader interests, including connectivity and energy security. While Modi will praise IndiaIsrael relationship, he will also be mindful of not disturbing India's long-standing relations with those partners in the Middle East who are critical of Israel.
