JUST IN: DOJ Announces Arrest of Former US Air Force Pilot for Training Chinese Military Pilots

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/02/just-doj-announces-arrest-former-us-air-force/

The Department of Justice on Wednesday announced that a former US Air Force Pilot was arrested for training Chinese military pilots.

Gerald Eddie Brown, Jr., 65, was arrested Wednesday in Jeffersonville, Indiana, the DOJ said.

The 24-year Air Force veteran was “charged by criminal complaint for providing and conspiring to provide defense services to Chinese military pilots without authorization, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA).”

“As alleged in the complaint, since at least in or around August 2023, Brown willfully conspired with foreign nationals and U.S. persons to provide combat aircraft training to pilots in the Chinese Air Force, known as the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). This training was a defense service under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Brown, a U.S. person under the ITAR, lacked the required license from the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) to provide that training to foreign persons or foreign military units,” the press release reads. Continue…

Biden FBI Obtained Phone Records of Kash Patel and Susie Wiles During Trump Classified Docs Investigation – Patel Responds by Firing 10 FBI OfficialsBiden FBI Obtained Phone Records of Kash Patel and Susie Wiles During Trump Classified Docs Investigation – Patel Responds by Firing 10 FBI Officials

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/02/biden-fbi-obtained-phone-records-kash-patel-susie/

Joe Biden’s FBI obtained phone records of Kash Patel and Susie Wiles back in 2022 and 2023 as part of Jack Smith’s investigation into classified documents lawfully stored at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.

“It is outrageous and deeply alarming that the previous FBI leadership secretly subpoenaed my own phone records — along with those of now White House chief of staff Susie Wiles — using flimsy pretexts and burying the entire process in prohibited case files designed to evade all oversight,” Kash Patel said to Fox News.

Kash Patel fired at least 10 of the FBI officials involved in secretly subpoenaing his phone records. Continue…

Trump Honors Erika Kirk at the 2026 State of the Union and Introduces Her as the Widow of Charlie Kirk, “Martyr of Freedom”

https://gatewayhispanic.com/2026/02/trump-had-erika-kirk-widow-founder-turning-point/

In an official announcement yesterday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk, would be one of the special guests of President Donald Trump during his State of the Union address.

In the State of the Union address delivered by President Donald Trump, he dedicated an emotional moment to Erika Kirk, widow of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who was present as one of his special guests in the Capitol gallery.

During a section on the “tremendous rebirth of faith, Christianity, and belief in God” in the United States following Kirk’s assassination, the president described him as someone who “was violated by an assassin and truly martyred for his beliefs.” Continue…

Sen. Mike Lee BLASTS RINOs After Thune Admits Senate Republicans “NOT UNIFIED” on Talking Filibuster to Pass SAVE Act

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/02/sen-mike-lee-blasts-rinos-after-thune-admits/

The Republican establishment is at it again, and the grassroots are losing patience.

Despite a mandate from the American people to secure our elections, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) admitted on Wednesday that the Republican conference is “not unified” on using the talking filibuster to force a vote on the SAVE Act.

And one senator isn’t taking the disunity lightly.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) immediately blasted members of his own party for what he implied was silent obstruction of one of the GOP’s top election integrity priorities, calling on reluctant Republicans to stop hiding behind closed doors and make their opposition public.

Speaking to reporters amid the ongoing government shutdown, Thune acknowledged that Republicans currently lack the internal cohesion necessary to execute a procedural maneuver as aggressive as a talking filibuster to muscle the SAVE Act through the Senate.

Thune warned that pursuing such a strategy would require near-perfect unity across all 50 Republican senators to repeatedly table Democrat amendments.

He also emphasized that leadership is prioritizing reopening DHS before committing to the legislative brawl that a filibuster showdown over election law would almost certainly trigger. Continue…

DISTURBING: (Foreign?) Semi-Truck Driver Who Can’t Read Basic Road Signs Barrels Down Missouri Highway Driving the Wrong Way – Nearly Collides with Vehicles (VIDEO)

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/02/disturbing-foreign-semi-truck-driver-who-cant-read/

A (foreign?) semi-truck driver who couldn’t even read basic road signs was spotted barreling down Highway 61 north of Troy, Missouri, driving the wrong way on Wednesday.

The unidentified driver drove the wrong direction for several miles.

A driver who was nearly struck by the semi-truck driver captured footage of the ‘foreign invader’ driving southbound on the northbound.

“This foreign invader was driving southbound in the northbound lane for about 3 miles. As I was going northbound, he nearly hit me head on before I pulled over to my left. I got on the southbound lane to follow him,” the driver said.

Missouri law enforcement pulled over the semi-truck driver.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the driver had a Minnesota CDL.

Statement from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy: Continue…

Russia Is Investigating Telegram Founder Pavel Durov in Terrorism-Related Probe

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/02/russia-is-investigating-telegram-founder-pavel-durov-terrorism/

The Kremlin has set its sights on Telegram.

The crackdown by the Russian government on the Telegram social media platform escalated considerably as news arose of a criminal investigation into the company’s founder and CEO, Pavel Durov.

Durov broke the news yesterday (24) in his Telegram channel:

“Russia has opened a criminal case against me for ‘aiding terrorism’. Each day, the authorities fabricate new pretexts to restrict Russians’ access to Telegram as they seek to suppress the right to privacy and free speech. A sad spectacle of a state afraid of its own people.” Continue…

Germany Approves Major Package of Attack Drones for the Bundeswehr, With a Half a Billion Euro Initial Purchase

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/02/germany-approves-major-package-attack-drones-bundeswehr-half/

Kamikaze drones are the name of the game.

Today, news has arisen that the German armed forces will purchase a large number of attack drones, and the unusual aspect is that these drones are NOT meant to be sent to Kyiv’s regime, but rather to be destined for units of the Bundeswehr, instead. Continue…

UPDATE: Medicine Technician Arrested in Murder of Millionaire Philanthropist; Police Say Suspect Wore Wig (Videos)

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/02/update-medicine-technician-arrested-murder-millionaire-philanthropist-police/

Authorities in Maryland have arrested a suspect in the murder of millionaire philanthropist Robert Fuller Jr at a senior living facility in Maryland.

The Montgomery Police Department has announced that Maurquise James, 22, a medicine technician who was employed by the Cogir Potomac Senior Living Facility, has been arrested for the murder of Robert Fuller Jr.

As The Gateway Pundit previously reported, the Montgomery County Police on Saturday released surveillance footage of a suspect they believed was connected to the murder.

In surveillance footage, a person wearing a plaid jacket and appearing to have long hair was seen entering the senior living facility where Fuller resided.

Shortly after the surveillance footage was released to the public, employees notified authorities that James wore the same plaid jacket to the senior living facility on multiple occasions.

Captain Sean Gheen said detectives also received a tip from a staff member at the senior living facility who informed authorities that James had been at the facility after his work hours on the night of the murder.

On Tuesday morning, James was arrested after he fired shots at a Maryland State Trooper, and detectives were able to match the bullet casings to those found at the murder of Fuller. Continue…

NIH’s Fauci-Holdover Animal Testing Czar Caught Lying About Funding Dog and Cat Experiments – Approved Millions While PETA Applauded

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/02/nihs-fauci-holdover-animal-testing-czar-caught-lying/

In a complaint filed with the National Institutes of Health, White Coat Waste has accused Dr. Nicole Kleinstreuer, the agency’s Deputy Director and overseer of its massive animal testing portfolio, of spreading outright lies about the agency’s funding of experiments on dogs and cats.

The filing demands corrections to Kleinstreuer’s false claims that these grants “predate” her tenure and that NIH is legally “constrained” to keep funding them, when in reality, millions in new and extended grants for painful, lethal tests on beagles and kittens have been approved under her leadership.

The complaint stems from Kleinstreuer’s appearance on an official NIH video podcast last July, where she tried to dodge criticism from WCW and animal lovers by insisting, “I understand that there’s part of the extramural portfolio that exists, that predates [us]. We are constrained under the law to leave those existing grants in place for now…. But to phase them out, we are working tirelessly behind the scenes.” She even claimed NIH was creating an “action plan to phase those out as quickly as possible under the law.”

However, WCW’s detailed analysis of NIH records paints a very different picture.

Far from being relics of Fauci’s past, these experiments have been actively funded and expanded during Kleinstreuer’s watch, which began in April of last year.

According to the complaint: Continue…

Cuba Claims It Killed 4 Passengers, Wounded 6 Others on Florida-Registered Boat

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/02/breaking-cuba-claims-it-shot-dead-4-passengers/

The Cuban Embassy in the U.S. has announced that four passengers of a U.S.-registered speedboat were shot and killed by members of the Cuban Border Guard.

It is unclear if American citizens were aboard the vessel.

According to a press release from the Cuban Embassy, a Florida-registered speedboat was traveling 1 nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel when it was approached by border guards from the Ministry of the Interior for violating speed limits.

The press release continued as the border guards approached the boat, passengers of the speedboat began to open fire and shot the commander of the Cuban border guard’s vessel.

Cuban border guards responded with fire, resulting in 4 passengers of the speed boat being killed and some others being injured.

Per The Cuban Embassy : Continue…

Bill Gates Apologizes to His Staff for His Epstein Ties, Admits Having Affairs With Two Russian Women

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/02/bill-gates-apologizes-his-staff-his-epstein-ties/

'''Apologies don’t tell the whole story.

It turns out billionaire Bill Gates has made a mea culpa in front of the staff of his foundation over his Jeffrey Epstein ties, going as far as admitting having affairs with two Russian women.

But before we get into this new report, we can ask ourselves: was that all there was to it?

Because Epstein was not only a sex trafficker; he was also a power broker and fixer to the super-elites.

And over the years it’s been widely reported that Bill Gates would have associated with Jeffrey Epstein in order to pursue or leverage influence to win a Nobel Prize (often mentioned as the Peace Prize). You can find this reported in the New York Times, Fox News, UK’s The Times, People Magazine, Daily Beast, Associated Press and many other outlets.

But is this true? Take a look at this 2018 picture:

Group of five men standing together in a well-lit room, engaged in conversation, showcasing a professional atmosphere.

It shows Bill Gates, Terje Rød-Larsen, Jeffrey Epstein, Gates advisor Boris Nikolic and Thorbjørn Jagland.

The former diplomat and politician Terje Rød-Larsen was at that time the president of the International Peace Institute.

And Thorbjørn Jagland is a former prime minister of Norway, and up until 2015, he was the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. At the time that this picture was taken, Jagland was the secretary general of the Council of Europe.

THIS is the kind of connections Gates was reportedly seeking, much more than any Russian girls.

People reported: Continue…

'Nude Photos, Video Tapes & Sex-Slave Manuals': Epstein Rushed Evidence Into Secret Storage Unit Before Raid

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/nude-photos-video-tapes-sex-slave-manuals-epstein-rushed-evidence-secret-storage-unit

effrey Epstein paid private detectives to remove items from his Palm Beach property and store them in a secret storage locker shortly before he was raided by police in 2005. The storage unit contained three computers, 29 address books, a three-page list of Florida masseuses.

The stash also included nude photographs believed to be of Epstein's victims, VHS tapes, DVDs 'eroticising teenagers' and porno mags, The Telegraph reports.

An 8mm video cassette tape was also locked away in the storage unit, apparently containing footage of someone in the shower and a woman in lingerie, as well as a 2005 calendar, greeting cards, letters and laboratory results.

The investigators also hid sex toys, body massagers, lingerie, cash, a concealed weapon permit, and a Harvard ID card. The inventory was emailed to Epstein and his lawyers in August 2009, a month after he was released from jail for soliciting a minor for prostitution.

Also interesting, some of the computer material 'appeared to be missing,' including 'equipment that would have linked to surveillance cameras.'

That fuelled speculation that Epstein might have been recording explicit covert material without people’s knowledge, either for his own sexual gratification or for blackmail purposes.

And what do we have here? A guy who was installing recording equipment on Epstein's island in 2014, and was named as a $1 million beneficiary in Epstein's trust. Continue…

World Economic Forum Boss Borge Brende Quits As Epstein Fallout Deepens

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/world-economic-forum-boss-borge-brende-quits-epstein-fallout-deepens

The Jeffrey Epstein fallout continues to spread across the corporate and political worlds, with new headlines daily. Bill Gates told foundation staff earlier this week, "I did nothing illicit." Goldman Sachs' top lawyer, Kathy Ruemmler, stepped down last week over her ties, and former Prince Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct related to sending Epstein trade documents.

Now, the World Economic Forum chief executive, Børge Brende, is stepping down following an investigation by the organization into his connections with the convicted sex offender.

WEF released a statement on its website announcing that Brende has decided to step down, and that Alois Zwinggi will serve as Interim President and CEO.

"After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as President and CEO of the World Economic Forum," Brende wrote in a statement.

He said, "I am grateful for the incredible collaboration with my colleagues, partners, and constituents, and I believe now is the right moment for the Forum to continue its important work without distractions."

The WEF launched a probe into Brende earlier this month, or at least publicly announced one, over his connections to Epstein, including attending at least three "business dinners" and exchanging emails and text messages with the sex offender.

Brende and Epstein communicated over email between 2018 and 2019 about meeting at the sex offender's New York mansion for dinner.

And this.

WEF CEO Borge Brende plotting with Jeffrey Epstein to position WEF as the global governance structure

It should be called “Epstein’s Great Reset” henceforth pic.twitter.com/kDwjuRhgU0

— Jesse Matchey (@JesseMatchey) February 5, 2026

In April 2018, Brende wrote, "Missing you, Sir. Borge." Continue…

South Africa Expresses 'Heartfelt Gratitude' For Putin Returning 17 Citizens Trapped In Warzone

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/south-africa-expresses-heartfelt-gratitude-putin-returning-17-citizens-trapped-warzone

BRICS allies Russia and South Africa are taking steps to heal tensions related to the Ukraine war and allegations that groups of South African men were 'lured' to fight on behalf of Moscow.

Last December, a Reuters investigation documented that South Africans were being recruited into the Russian armed forces under false pretenses. People were allegedly promised high-level jobs and elite training in Russia, only to find out they unwittingly joined the Russian military, and eventually found themselves fighting in Ukraine soon after documents were hastily signed. In these cases the implication is that these South African individuals are in desperate financial straits.

The South African government had first confirmed in November its officials had received "distress calls" from 17 men who were trapped on the front line in Ukraine's Donbas, after in some instances having mistakenly joined mercenary groups. Continue…

In Simulated War Games, Top AI Models Recommended Using Nukes 95% Of The Time

https://www.zerohedge.com/ai/simulated-war-games-top-ai-models-recommended-using-nukes-95-time

I've got good news and bad news about AI.

The good news is that the dreaded "Skynet" takeover of our nuclear weapons systems isn't going to happen soon.

The bad news is that if it ever does give us a Terminator scenario, we're toast.

A war game exercise carried out by Kenneth Payne at King’s College London, using three teams running simulations on Chat GPT-5.2, Claude Sonnet 4, and Gemini 3 Flash.

The teams "played 21 war games against each other over 329 turns," according to Implicator.AI's Marcus Schuler.

"They wrote roughly 780,000 words explaining why they did what they did," he noted.

No model ever chose to surrender, NewScientist reported on Tuesday.

In fact, 95% of the time, the models chose to use nuclear weapons. Continue…

Orban Deploys Troops To Guard Energy Sites After Accusing Ukraine Of Sabotage

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/orban-deploys-troops-guard-energy-sites-after-accusing-ukraine-sabotage

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Wednesday again accused Ukraine of plotting to sabotage Hungary's energy infrastructure, following a Ukrainian drone attack on a key Transneft oil pumping station in the Russian republic of Tatarstan early Monday, which was further detrimental to the Druzhba oil pipeline.

But Orban has now upped the ante, sending a powerful message to Ukraine and its EU backers, having newly ordered troops to protect key energy sites. He has also been denouncing "blackmail" over Hungary's Russian energy purchases and dependency, vowing "we will not give in".

"I have heard the briefings of the national security services and see that Ukraine is preparing further actions aimed at disrupting the operation of Hungary’s energy system," Orbán stated in a video posted on X. Continue…

"Breakneck Production Growth": Exxon Leverages Guyana Boom In Global Oil Talks

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/breakneck-production-growth-exxon-leverages-guyana-boom-global-oil-talks

Exxon Mobil Corp. is using its rapid buildout in Guyana as a selling point in talks with other governments looking to develop oil and gas reserves, according to Bloomberg.

The company says the speed and efficiency of its offshore projects there — which lifted production from zero to nearly 1 million barrels a day in just over six years — show it can execute complex developments better than rivals. Chief Executive Officer Darren Woods calls that a “unique value proposition” for host countries.

“We’re going to bring something unique to you that has great value to you, and then we expect to be compensated for that,” Woods said. “That’s the proposition that we’re making to basically all the resource owners and our customers.”

As major energy firms compete to secure new supplies, Exxon argues its steady focus on oil and gas, along with disciplined project delivery, sets it apart from peers pivoting strategies.

“We can see that in Guyana,” Woods said. “We’re delivering differentiated results. Importantly, our industry peers can see it, and the resource owners can see it.” Continue…

Loonie Left: Canada Provides Aid To Cuba Because “Orange Man Bad”

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2026-02-25/loonie-left-canada-provides-aid-cuba-because-orange-man-bad

Canada’s federal government has confirmed it is directing aid to Cuba, a move that raises serious questions about whether Ottawa is making principled humanitarian decisions or simply reflexively positioning itself against Washington to score points with a domestic audience gripped by Trump Derangement Syndrome.

As reported by Blacklocks Reporter, the feds confirmed the aid flows even as U.S. – Havanna tensions escalated after Cuba’s border guard troops opened fire on a Florida-registered speedboat off the island’s north coast on February 25th, killing four people and injuring six. Florida Republican Congressman Carlos Gimenez didn’t mince words:

“The dictatorship in Cuba has just attacked a boat from Florida and murdered those on board. This regime must be relegated to the dustbin of history.”

Whatever the full circumstances of the maritime incident turn out to be, the optics for Ottawa couldn’t be worse. Canadian taxpayer dollars are flowing toward a government that, nearly the same time the story broke, was killing US citizens in open water.

Let’s be clear about what Canada is propping up Continue…

Canada no longer linking Indian government to violent crimes – media

https://www.rt.com/india/633061-canada-no-longer-linking-indian/

Ottawa is no longer linking the Indian government to violent crimes, according to a media report from a press briefing which was held ahead of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s trip to Mumbai and New Delhi.

Carney is slated to arrive in India on his first official visit on February 27 and will be there until March 2.

This reflects a major shift in the Canadian government’s perspective, the Toronto Star reported.

“We have a very robust diplomatic engagement, including between national security advisers, and I think we can say we’re confident that that activity is not continuing,” the report quoted a senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, as saying. Continue…

Liberal public safety minister claims Canada's immigration and refugee system is world's 'gold standard'

https://www.rebelnews.com/liberal_public_safety_minister_claims_canada_s_immigration_and_refugee_system_is_world_s_gold_standard

Gary Anandasangaree praised Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board as the 'gold standard' while speaking in the House of Commons on Monday. Continue…

Doug Ford tells CNN 'so many Canadians' are cheering on Democrats ahead of midterms

https://www.rebelnews.com/doug_ford_tells_cnn_so_many_canadians_are_cheering_on_democrats_ahead_of_midterms

Sheila Gunn Reid and Lise Merle rejected the Ontario premier's assertion that Canadians are widely supporting Democrats ahead of the U.S. midterms later this year. Continue…

Durham Region launches online 'snitch line' to report 'hate'

https://www.rebelnews.com/durham_region_launches_snitch_line_to_report_hate

Did someone say a rude comment to you? Did you perhaps overhear an offensive joke? In Durham, Ont., you can make an anonymous complaint via the region’s online snitch line. Continue…

Liberals continue attack on law-abiding firearm owners ahead of looming confiscation deadline

https://www.rebelnews.com/liberals_continue_attack_on_law_abiding_firearm_owners_ahead_of_looming_confiscation_deadline

To remain compliant with Canadian law, owners of prohibited "assault-style" firearms must surrender or permanently deactivate their weapons by October 30, 2026. Continue…

Church vs. Church: Bizarre protest erupts over ‘Truth Matters’ event featuring MLA Dallas Brodie

https://www.rebelnews.com/church_vs_church_bizarre_protest_erupts_over_truth_matters_event_featuring_mla_dallas

Rebel News speaks with Dallas Brodie, Action4Canada event attendees and protesters at Langley’s Riverside Calvary Chapel as accusations of ‘hate’ and residential school ‘denialism’ are overshadowed by calls for truth and accountability. Continue…

>>24307669

Senior government data scientist challenges suspension over COVID-19 vaccine data analysis

https://www.rebelnews.com/senior_government_data_scientist_challenges_suspension_over_covid_19_vaccine_data_analysis

Dmitry Gorodnichy’s grievance highlights the nexus between scientific integrity, public service loyalty, and freedom of expression inside Canada’s federal institutions. Continue…

'Trans woman' on bail for allegedly stabbing young children releases disturbing message

https://www.rebelnews.com/_trans_woman_on_bail_for_allegedly_stabbing_young_children_releases_disturbing_message

Michael Joseph Atwood, a 35-year-old from Grande Prairie who identifies as transgender, was charged with stabbing his own two children. Continue…

BREAKING: Charges DROPPED for Lindsay homeowner who defended himself against crossbow-wielding thug

https://www.rebelnews.com/breaking_charges_dropped_for_lindsay_homeowner_who_defended_himself_against_crossbow_wielding_thug

After months of outrage over upside-down justice, the Crown withdraws aggravated assault charges against Lindsay father Jeremy McDonald.

This morning, the Crown withdrew all assault charges against Jeremy McDonald, the Ontario father who defended himself against an intruder armed with a crossbow back in August.

At 3 a.m., a known career criminal smashed into McDonald’s second-storey apartment in Lindsay, Ont. He acted in self-defence, ultimately neutralizing the intruder, who was airlifted to a Toronto trauma centre with life-threatening injuries thereafter.

What followed was shock when police slapped charges on the homeowner for aggravated assault and assault with a weapon.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford was questioned on the dropped charges this morning, publicly criticizing the judicial system at the time. He called such a situation “free game,” noting that if someone breaks into your house armed and ready to kill, any reasonable person would do what they have to, to protect their life, family and home.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith had previously weighed in, saying, “If you don't want to get shot or beaten up, don't break into people's houses. It's pretty straightforward.”

The Crown now admits there's no reasonable prospect of conviction under self-defence laws. It’s a win for common sense that came with hefty legal costs, and arguably took longer than it should have.

McDonald didn't ask for this battle, but thanks to public pressure and support, sanity prevailed.

Trans comedian calls for violence 'until they let us use whatever bathroom we want'

https://www.rebelnews.com/trans_comedian_calls_to_kill_kids

Transgender comedian 'Grace Freud' is facing backlash over disturbing comments he made about 'killing kids' during a recent set. Continue…

Alberta to bring forward more rules for Medical Assistance in Dying

https://www.rebelnews.com/alberta_to_bring_forward_more_rules_for_medical_assistance_in_dying

The Buffalo Roundtable, featuring hosts Sheila Gunn Reid and Lise Merle alongside panellists Eva Chipiuk and Cory Morgan, weighed in on Alberta's plan to rein in the Medical Assistance in Dying program. Continue…

STRUGGLE SESSION: Canadian media GRILLS USA hockey hero Brady Tkachuk for laughing at Trump joke

https://thepostmillennial.com/struggle-session-canadian-media-grills-usa-hockey-hero-brady-tkachuk-for-laughing-at-trump-joke

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk was grilled on Thursday for why members of the US men’s Olympic hockey team laughed during a phone call from President Donald Trump following their gold medal win, having to explain the team's reaction to rabid Canadian media members. Continue…

Canada and South Korea Sign Deal to Boost Defence Cooperation

https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/canada-and-south-korea-sign-deal-to-boost-defence-cooperation-5991424?ea_src=ca-frontpage&ea_med=section-1

Canada and South Korea have entered into a new agreement to bolster cooperation on defence procurement, industrial security, and research, officials have announced.

The agreement comes several months after Prime Minister Mark Carney’s October meeting with President Lee Jae Myung in South Korea to finalize the Canada-Republic of Korea Security and Defence Cooperation Partnership (SDCP).

The new deal builds on that partnership with the creation of a SDCP Action Plan. It was finalized on Feb. 25 with an official signing ceremony in Ottawa, where Defence Minister David McGuinty and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand hosted their South Korean counterparts, Foreign Affairs Minister Cho Hyun and Defence Minister Ahn Gyuback.

McGuinty told reporters after the ceremony that the deal represents “an important step for our two countries.” Continue…

Instagram to Begin Parental Alerts of Teen Searches for Suicide or Self-Harm

https://www.theepochtimes.com/business/instagram-to-begin-parental-alerts-of-teen-searches-for-suicide-or-self-harm-5991284?ea_src=ca-frontpage&ea_med=section-1

The social media platform Instagram is taking proactive steps to help prevent teen suicide or self-harm by alerting parents using its supervision features about their teens’ searches related to life-threatening topics.

In its Feb. 26 announcement, Instagram parent company, Meta, said it is creating these alerts to ensure parents are aware if their teen is repeatedly trying to search for this type of content, and to provide the resources they need to offer support to their child.

“We understand how sensitive these issues are, and how distressing it could be for a parent to receive an alert like this,” the statement reads.

“The vast majority of teens do not try to search for suicide and self-harm content on Instagram, and when they do, our policy is to block these searches, instead directing them to resources and helplines that can offer support.”

The new parental alerts are expected to launch next week in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, and will be available in other countries later this year.

Parents enrolled in Instagram’s supervision program will be notified next week about the new alerts. Instagram will monitor any searches that contain terms like “suicide, “self-harm,” or any phrases related to life-ending suggestions. Continue…

Candidate for Foreign Influence Registry Commissioner Faces MPs at Committee

https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/candidate-for-foreign-influence-registry-commissioner-faces-mps-at-committee-5991368?ea_src=ca-frontpage&ea_med=section-1

The government’s nominee to head the yet-to-be established foreign influence registry told MPs he’s the right man for the job as they assessed his potential to lead the new office.

Anton Boegman, a former B.C. chief electoral officer, testified before the House of Commons procedure and House affairs committee on Feb. 26 regarding his nomination as foreign influence transparency commissioner. The Liberal government had announced its intention to appoint Boegman to the position in late January.

“Canada’s institutions and interests are increasingly under threat from foreign interference,” Boegman told MPs. “Maligned foreign actors seek to exert influence through covert means, to shape public policy, change public opinion, or interfere with our democratic processes; all to support their own interests. A critical measure to counter these activities is transparency.”

He said that if appointed Canada’s first foreign influence commissioner, he will “work unfailingly to ensure that activities to influence political and government processes in Canada are made transparent, that foreign actors are deterred from attempted covert influence actions in Canada, and that the regulatory code currently under development is enforced.”

Boegman said he has dedicated his entire career to “protecting and supporting our democracy,” through his previous roles as a naval officer and as B.C.’s chief electoral officer.

He said his previous experience makes him well-suited to fulfill the mandates of the foreign influence transparency office, and to build partnerships and information-sharing pathways with law enforcement and different agencies, such as CSIS, to effectively apply the registry’s rules. Continue…

Public Safety Minister Says No Security Review Done on BC Ferries’ China-Built Ships Deal

https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/public-safety-minister-says-no-security-review-done-on-bc-ferries-china-built-ships-deal-5990848?ea_src=ca-frontpage&ea_med=section-1

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree says no federal security review was done on last year’s BC Ferries procurement deal in which a Chinese shipyard was chosen for a contract to build four new vessels for its aging fleet.

Anandasangaree made the comments Feb. 25 in testimony before the House transport committee, saying the purchase was a provincial decision and the provision of $1 billion from the Canadian Infrastructure Bank (CIB) also fell outside Public Safety’s review authority.

“[Public Safety] does not review procurement decisions at the provincial level such as this one. Therefore, we would not have had the authority to conduct a national security review,” Anandasangaree told MPs.

Anandasangaree made the comments in response to questions from Conservative MP Dan Albas, who cited past Transport Canada warnings about the potential risk of surveillance technology being embedded into foreign-built vessels.

Anandasangaree said federal security officials only began engaging BC Ferries after Transport Canada raised the issue of potential national security sensitivities in late April or early May 2025. However, Anandasangaree said by that time “BC Ferries had already made their procurement decision.”

Albas expressed concern that no security review was done before the procurement decision was made. Continue…

Applications to Canada's armed forces surged 12.9% in the past eight months, says national defence minister

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/applications-to-canadas-armed-forces-surged-12-9-in-the-past-eight-months-says-national-defence-minister

Increasing global uncertainty is motivating Canadians to enlist in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), according to federal Minister of National Defence, David McGuinty.

“Applications are up” 13 per cent in the past eight months, McGuinty told Politico on Tuesday.

That number has been confirmed to the National Post by the Department of National Defence (DND). As of early January 2026, prospective recruit applications for the regular force “have increased by approximately 12.9% compared to the previous fiscal year,” a DND spokesperson said in an email on Wednesday.

The CAF’s plan, known as “Our North, Strong and Free” commits to modernizing the recruitment process and rebuilding the military to 71,500 regular force members by March 31, 2032. But as of late December, Canada’s regular force was at 65,677 — 5,823 people short of the target. Continue…