hyderabad l sunday l February 22, 2026 l `12.00 l PAGES 24 l LATE CITY EDITION canada seeks to withhold key information in nijjar trial Canada is seeking to withhold sensitive evidence in the murder trial of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, citing international security trial not expected before august 2026 rebuilding india-canada relations The killing occurred on June 18, 2023, when Nijjar was shot outside a Gurdwara in British Columbia. Trial is not expected before Aug 2026. The case strained India-Canada relations briefly when PM Trudeau alleged India’s involvement. India denied the claims as “motivated”. PM Mark Carney is now seeking to expand bilateral trade relations with India ■ ■ Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney met on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta Trade talks, paused since 2023, were revived. Leaders agreed to launch negotiations during a November 2025 G20 sidelines meeting in Johannesburg, aiming to double bilateral trade to $50 bn by 2030 Section 38 of canada evidence act protects sharing of sensitive info CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Day after, Trump jacks India-Brazil pact on critical minerals up global tariff to 15% j aya n t h j a c o b @ New Delhi Indian exporters uncertain about the actual quantum of levy; govt studying the situation Agreement with the US. The Modi government has not yet Uncertainty prevails over clarified the status of the inthe actual tariff Indian goods terim negotiations. On Saturwould attract after the US Su- day, it said it is analysing the preme Court struck down the developments before taking a reciprocal levy imposed by the final view. “We are studying all Trump administration on Fri- developments for their implicaday. Shortly after the tions,” the Ministry of verdict, Trump anCommerce said. nounced a unifor m Meanwhile, US media 10% global tariff on all reported that all tariffs nations. On Saturday, imposed by the Trump he scaled up that figadministration on tradure to 15%, which is ing partners have been 3% short of the 18% suspended and that the levy he had annew 15% tariff is now Effective nounced for India earapplicable. However, a immediately, ly this month. fact sheet issued by the During the next few (I am) raising the White House said Ex10% Worldwide months, “the Trump ecutive Order 14257 of Tariff on Countries administration will April 2, 2025 — which ... to the fully determine and issue re g u l at e s i m p o r t s allowed, and new and legally perthrough reciprocal tarlegally tested missible tariffs”, he iffs to address large 15% level said on social media. and persistent US Donald J Trump With Trump claimgoods trade deficits — ing on Friday that has been amended (not “nothing has changed” for In- suspended or withdrawn). dia, confusion persisted on the Indian exporters are awaitactual quantum of levy . ing clarity on whether 15% or The judgment came at a time 18% would apply. For now, when India is on the verge of they are in a wait-and-watch signing of a Bilateral Trade mode.  continued on P10 P u s h p i ta D e y @ New Delhi Today’s Matches 3pm: England vs, Sri Lanka (Pallekele); 7pm: India vs South Africa (Ahmedabad) inside Merit will take you places: CM to cadre I P4 INDIA and Brazil on Saturday agreed to deepen cooperation in critical minerals and rare earths while setting an ambitious bilateral trade target of over $20 billion annually within the next five years, following wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Lula is in India on a five-day visit, during which he is also attending the India AI Impact Summit. Addressing the media after delegation-level discussions, Modi described Brazil as India’s largest trading partner in Latin America and said the two were committed to expanding economic engagement. “We are committed to taking bilateral trade beyond $20 billion in the next five years. Our trade is not lula bats for unsc membership New Delhi: Lula said the global environment required deeper strategic ties between the two democracies. “This is a meeting of a digital superpower with a renewable-energy superpower,” he said, asserting that India & Brazil were “natural candidates” for permanent UNSC membership President Droupadi Murmu and PM Narendra Modi greet Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as he arrives in New Delhi on Saturday | Shekhar Yadav just a figure, it is a reflection of trust,” he said. Bilateral trade stood at $12 billion in 2024–25, with Indian exports at $6.77 billion and imports from Brazil at $5.43 billion. A key outcome of the talks was an agreement on cooperation in critical minerals and rare earths. The two countries also signed a joint declaration on digital partnership and MoUs 88 countries back New Delhi declaration on AI R a k e s h K u m a r @ New Delhi As many as 88 countries, including the US, UK, China and the EU, along with several international organisations, endorsed the New Delhi Declaration at the end of the India AI Impact Summit, which committed itself to ensuring an eq- uitable AI. The declaration set out a shared approach to AI governance and development. “The choices that we make today will shape the AI-enabled world that future generations will inherit,” the declaration said. The declaration is built around seven key pillars — democratising AI resources, promoting economic growth and social good, building secure and trusted AI, expanding access for social empowerment, advancing AI for science, developing human capital, and creating resilient and efficient AI systems. covering mining, MSMEs, healthcare and traditional knowledge systems. Cooperation in defence, renewable energy, digital public infrastructure and advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and blockchain also figured prominently . “Our cooperation in defence is growing… We will continue to strengthen this win-win partnership,” Modi said. WITH THIS ISSUE The Many Lives of LOVE P AGES Then and Now PLUS 12