The Government of Canada has announced an $8 million food assistance package for people in Cuba in response to mounting shortages of basic goods aggravated by a tightened U.S. oil blockade, federal officials said Wednesday. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai said the funding is intended to help address urgent needs for food and nutrition among vulnerable communities on the Caribbean island. The aid will be delivered through United Nations partners, including the World Food Programme and UNICEF, rather than through the Cuban

The United States is signalling that Canada should not expect full relief from American tariffs in any future trade agreement, according to comments from President Donald Trump’s chief trade representative following the State of the Union address. Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill after President Donald Trump’s speech Tuesday night, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said any new trade arrangement with Canada would likely include tariff measures. He indicated that even a renewal of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement may not guarantee a fully tariff-free framework. Greer su

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Israel on Wednesday for a two day official visit, marking his first trip to the country in nearly nine years. He was received at the airport by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his spouse, Sara Netanyahu. During the visit, Modi and Netanyahu held a one on one meeting in Tel Aviv to discuss bilateral cooperation. Officials indicated that security and strategic partnerships are expected to feature prominently in the talks, reflecting the growing ties between the two countries in recent years. Modi is also scheduled to address the Isr

Richmond RCMP say 14 people were taken into custody during a one-day retail theft enforcement operation earlier this month as part of the first “Boost and Bust” initiative of 2026. In a news release, police said the Feb. 15 operation focused on businesses in Richmond’s downtown core and commercial areas. RCMP said 13 people were arrested in connection with alleged shoplifting incidents and investigators plan to recommend charges in 10 of those files. Police said two youths were arrested and will be referred to restorative justice programs, and referrals to social services were offered to

Police in Nanaimo are urging residents to remain cautious after a local resident lost about $24,000 in a fraud scheme involving suspects posing as bank officials. The Nanaimo RCMP say the victim believed they were communicating with representatives from the Royal Bank of Canada after receiving multiple phone calls and text messages that appeared to come from an official bank number. According to investigators, some of the messages included security verification codes. The victim, thinking the communication was legitimate, shared personal details with the caller. Police say that information was

The Alberta government is once again asking the courts to strike down Ottawa’s Impact Assessment Act, arguing that recent amendments still infringe on provincial jurisdiction over natural resources and development. The Alberta Court of Appeal began hearing arguments in Calgary this week in the province’s renewed constitutional challenge. The legislation, first enacted in 2019, establishes a federal review process for major infrastructure and resource projects, including pipelines, mines and energy developments, assessing potential environmental, economic, health and social impacts. Alberta

Last Saturday, on International Mother Language Day, Punjabi (speaking and understanding) audience for the first time, got to hear commentary of a Major League Soccer match in Punjabi. Connect 91.5 FM aired the Vancouver Whitecaps game live in Punjabi. In addition to the game, there was a pre-game show and a post-game show. On this historic occasion, the commentary was handled by Connect FM's News Director Parvez Sandhu, and young commentators Jagraj Lali and Shubham Arora. This Punjabi commentary partnership between Connect FM and the Whitecaps was not limited to a single match, but rather th

A person is believed to have died following an early morning fire that destroyed the Fraser Lake Inn and a neighbouring commercial building in the community of Fraser Lake. The Fraser Lake RCMP said officers were called to the scene at approximately 3:06 a.m. on February 22 after reports of a structure fire at the Fraser Lake Inn. When police arrived, they learned that an individual had reportedly re-entered the building and had not been located. Officers attempted to search the structure but were forced to withdraw because of heavy smoke. The Fraser Lake Fire Department later extinguished the

British authorities have arrested former United Kingdom ambassador and senior political figure Peter Mandelson as part of an investigation tied to his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Metropolitan Police Service confirmed that officers detained a 72 year old man at a residence in north London on suspicion of misconduct in public office. While police did not formally identify the individual, British media have previously reported that the investigation concerns Peter Mandelson. Investigators are examining documents that allegedly suggest Mandelson shared sensiti