Politics

King Willem-Alexander swore in Rob Jetten as prime minister of a three-party minority coalition that holds 66 of 150 lower house seats, meaning the government will need opposition support to pass legislation.

A petition opposing coal exploration on the eastern slopes of Alberta's Rocky Mountains has been relaunched, and the provincial government said it could be included in a referendum in October.

Vancouver International Airport says NEXUS and Global Entry access at its U.S. pre-clearance is suspended and several Canadian airports reported similar outages; officials link the interruptions to the ongoing partial U.S. government shutdown.

Mexican authorities reported the military killed cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," and the Canadian government issued a shelter-in-place warning for Canadians in Jalisco while several airlines cancelled flights to Puerto Vallarta.

Steve Witkoff, speaking for President Trump, said the president is 'curious' why Iran has not agreed to curb its nuclear program as the United States increases forces in the Middle East; Iranian officials report differing views with the U.S. over sanctions relief and talks are ongoing but unresolved.

Hungary's foreign minister said Budapest will block the EU's 20th sanctions package against Russia until Russian oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline resume, and EU foreign ministers are due to meet in Brussels on Monday to discuss the package.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress is holding an event on Parliament Hill today as part of about 60 gatherings across Canada marking the fourth anniversary of Russia's Feb. 24, 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Pakistan said it carried out strikes along the Afghanistan border early Sunday; the Afghan Red Crescent and provincial officials reported 18 people killed and said civilian areas in Nangarhar and Paktika were hit.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress is holding an event on Parliament Hill today as part of about 60 gatherings across Canada to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

Milan has established mosques like Al-Wahid that hold open iftars and evening prayers, while mountain host areas around Cortina have fewer formal prayer spaces, with some Muslims traveling to Brunico or using improvised rooms to pray.

A 21-year-old Moroccan woman who received a U.S. immigration judge’s protection order was deported from the United States to Cameroon and later returned to Morocco, where she says she is now in hiding; the Department of Homeland Security confirmed deportations to Cameroon and said it is applying the law as written.

The parents of 12-year-old Kylie Smith cancelled her funeral after receiving threats, and the RCMP say they are investigating and have safety plans in place for affected families and the community.

Hezbollah officials said Israeli airstrikes near Rayak killed eight of their members; Lebanon's Health Ministry reported 10 dead and 24 wounded.

Vancouver councillors will move a motion on Feb. 26 asking the city to oppose ICE agents performing security duties during the 2026 World Cup; there are no confirmed plans for ICE to operate in Vancouver.

After a leadership debate, five NDP hopefuls focused on rebuilding the party while showing limited French ability and offering few clear plans to regain lost support.

Itrat Anwar, a Bangladeshi-born resident of Steinbach, Manitoba, writes that speaking Bangla connects her to home, memory and history, and she notes Feb. 21 is observed as International Mother Language Day.

Four years after Russia's Feb. 24, 2022 invasion, Ukraine continues to face frequent attacks and rising drone strikes while international military support has declined.

City planners have proposed a master plan for the 1,400-acre Vision Lands West that projects about 14,000 housing units and significant green space, with a public hearing set for April 7.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the president cannot use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs, and the administration has announced a temporary 10% global import duty that lasts 150 days and would require Congress to extend it.

Veterans and the Veterans Ombud say parts of the Budget Implementation Act would retroactively alter how benefits were calculated and could nullify ongoing lawsuits; the bill is before Parliament with clause-by-clause debate set for Feb. 23 and a possible House vote on Feb. 25.

House Democrats have requested correspondence between Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and bridge owner Matthew Moroun as part of an inquiry after President Trump's social media post threatening to stall the Gordie Howe International Bridge; they also sought records of donations from the Moroun family.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has outlined proposals for an October referendum that would expand provincial control over immigration and limit some provincially funded services for temporary residents; experts say the move is intended to strengthen Alberta's bargaining position with the federal government, including over funding for asylum seekers.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that President Trump could not use a 1970s emergency powers law to impose broad tariffs, while sectoral tariffs under a different law remain in place.

The Supreme Court found the president exceeded authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, invalidating tariffs imposed under that law; sector-specific tariffs under other statutes remain in place.

Statistics Canada data shows Thunder Bay had the highest average annual human trafficking rate in Canada from 2014 to 2024, and a local coalition held an awareness event to share information about signs and resources.

Marten Falls First Nation has submitted a fast-tracked environmental assessment for an access road to the Ring of Fire, becoming the second community to do so after Webequie First Nation; Ontario says it has signed a cooperation agreement with the federal government and that construction could begin as soon as August 2026, according to a provincial statement.

Hunter Hess said criticism from former President Donald Trump made the fortnight before his Olympic debut "probably the hardest two weeks" of his life, and he qualified for the men's freeski halfpipe final on Feb. 20.

RCMP say a temporary foreign worker in Church Point, Nova Scotia, was coerced into long hours, paid $300 and threatened; a 65-year-old man from southern Ontario has been arrested and charged with human trafficking and related offences.

Manitoba will provide $100,000 to the Punjabi Chamber of Commerce to run a hotline after officials reported a rise in extortion affecting some South Asian communities; an extortion summit in Winnipeg was also announced.

Florida's legislature passed SB 706 to rename Palm Beach International Airport after President Donald Trump; the bill now goes to Governor Ron DeSantis and would require FAA approval to take effect on July 1 if signed.