The lockdown in Puerto Vallarta continues on Monday with thousands of Canadians still stuck in their homes, hotels and resorts.

Vancouver resident John Snyder lives part time in the Romantic Zone, where the worst of Sunday’s cartel violence happened.

He had left his home early to meet friends at a local restaurant on Sunday to watch the Olympic gold medal men’s hockey game and said the streets were very quiet at that time.

“About an hour into the game, the sun was up, and I looked out the window and I said, ‘I think we’re going to get a big storm, there’s black clouds everywhere’,” Synder told Global News on Monday.

“And then about a minute later, one of the owners stepped up in front of the TVs and basically said, ‘Sorry, folks, but I’m going to have to close all the windows, close all of the blinds, and we’re going to lock the doors because there are severe threats against everybody in town and we want to protect you guys.’”

Synder said that is when everyone’s phones started pinging with messages and images of what was happening in the streets outside.

“It was frightening, really, because the streets emptied out,” he said. “The owners were very serious about protecting us. The clouds, the skies were just black with smoke.”

There are currently more than 26,000 Canadians registered in Mexico as cartel violence hit the popular tourist area of Puerto Vallarta — and no plans for military or consular flights to assist Canadians getting out, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said on Monday.

Canadians in Puerto Vallarta are being asked to “shelter in place” after violence erupted in the seaside Mexican town over the killing of cartel leader and drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, better known as “El Mencho,” in a military raid on Sunday.

Synder captured photos of the chaos and destruction on the streets as he made it back to his home on Sunday. He said he saw vehicles on fire, burned businesses and buildings.

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Snyder said that he hopes things get back to normal soon.

“The tourists will get home eventually and they won’t be bothered,” he said.

“But a friend sent me a note this morning that 70 businesses were destroyed. There are no deaths locally, at least that we know of.”

Snyder said no trucks are entering the city yet as there are still burnt cars and buses blocking roadways.

“I suspect that the nationals are so resilient, they’ll get the place back in order because they realize the importance of the tourist industry and the importance of all the people that live in the city, and it’s a big city,” he added.

“And I believe there’s still going to be fruits and vegetables available, local meat markets, fish stores, they’re going to all be without a doubt supplied. So I’m not too worried about that, really. I’m just worried. I’m worried more about the nationals.”

 

&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Two of the best teams in the NBA clash on Monday night, and you can use theScore Bet bonus code NPNEWS to get a bet reset up to $1,000.

The San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons headline a three-game slate on Monday.

Detroit has been the story of the season so far, embracing the “Bad Boys” identity that once had the franchise on top of the NBA podium.

San Antonio and Victor Wembanyama have also turned heads in the Western Conference, joining the Thunder as an elite team with a bright future ahead of it.

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What our Post expert thinks about Spurs vs. Pistons

The Pistons and Spurs come into Monday night with a combined record of 82-29. Detroit currently sits atop the Eastern Conference, while San Antonio is second in the West, trailing Oklahoma City.

This contest will be seen as a litmus test for both clubs. They’ve been two of the best in the league this season, but the oddsmakers are skeptical that they are built to win in the playoffs.

San Antonio is 12/1 to win the NBA Championship, while Detroit is 14/1.

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• Are you a Canadian in Puerto Vallarta right now? Reach out to us at shareyourstory@globalnews.ca with information on what you are experiencing and how we can get in touch with you.

Canadian travellers impacted by violent conflicts in Mexico may be able to get a refund or modify their upcoming bookings as airlines begin to offer more flexibility.

Escalating tensions in and around Puerto Vallarta in the western Mexico state of Jalisco prompted a shelter in place order in the city over the weekend, leaving many travellers, including Canadians, locked in their hotel rooms.

Canada’s major air carriers say they are aware of the evolving situation and are notifying affected customers, some of whom described the city as a “war zone” on Sunday.

“People are mostly calm and just staying tight and sort of maybe a bit quieter than usual and trying to figure out what’s really going on,” said Jeff Willis, a Manitoba resident who is currently in Puerto Vallarta.

“But behind our unit, you can see multiple, multiple areas of smoke and it looks like a war zone.”

According to the Mexican embassy in the U.S., the military operation on Sunday was conducted to achieve the arrest of Ruben “N,” also known as Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes or “El Mencho,” the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

There are more than 26,000 Canadians on the ground in Mexico. The volatility comes as some universities are on reading weeks and as the spring travel season approaches, which typically sees an uptick in people flocking south.

If you are in Puerto Vallarta or a region experiencing unrest, Global Affairs Canada is urging Canadians to register with the government and to be in touch through SOS@international.gc.ca or +1 613 996 8885 for those currently outside of the country.

Air Canada and other carriers have cancelled flights into and out of Puerto Vallarta (PVR) airport scheduled for Feb. 23, with travel advisories expanding to surrounding regions in Mexico. Flights were also cancelled on Sunday.

“We are monitoring the situation closely, and are in contact with local Mexican authorities as well as Transport Canada,” said Air Canada in a statement on Sunday.

“Customers are advised not to attempt to go to the airport unless their flight which they have a confirmed booking for is shown as operating on aircanada.com. We will contact customers with new flight information as soon as the situation allows it.”

WestJet, which includes applicable Sunwing Airlines flights, Air Transat and Porter Airlines, have all issued similar statements as of Monday.

Here’s what travellers need to know.

Travellers who have had their flights cancelled by an airline are almost always expected to receive a refund or alternative flight arrangements free of charge.

The Canadian Transportation Agency, or CTA, states that an airline has minimum obligations when a flight is delayed or cancelled, regardless of the reasons.

“When a flight is delayed or cancelled (including before the day of travel), an airline has minimum obligations to passengers that could include certain kinds of assistance (standards of treatment), rebooking or refunds, and up to $1,000 in compensation for inconvenience,” the CTA says on its website.

“Their obligations depend on whether the disruption is within the control of the airline, within the airline’s control but required for safety, or outside the airline’s control.”

The CTA adds that the airline must also offer customers accommodation if they are stranded overnight as the result of cancelled or delayed flights.

In these situations, accommodations must be free of charge to the passenger, be “reasonable” in relation to their location and the airline must provide transportation to and from those accommodations.

The Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada (THIA) issued a travel advisory to all Canadian travelers either in Mexico or heading to the country.

“Adhere to all government safety directives and contact travel suppliers to determine the soonest available options for alternative arrangements to return home once it’s safe to do so,” THIA said in a statement to Global News.

“Some travel insurance plans may provide benefits for delayed return due to covered reasons, so retain receipts for unexpected costs and contact your provider for coverage guidance.”

THIA also alerted travelers either heading to Mexico or had a flight turned around that “most airlines and travel providers are providing alternative arrangements for impacted travelers. Flight interruption benefits may also provide protection under some travel insurance policies.”

Canadians with pre-booked trips in the coming days or weeks are advised to “continue monitoring Government of Canada travel advisories for the destination in Mexico where your trip is scheduled. Travel insurance plans may provide coverage for trip cancellation if a level 3 (yellow) or 4 (red) advisory against travel is issued.”

If travellers are already at their destination, like affected regions of Mexico, those customers may have already been contacted by their air carrier about their upcoming flights back home.

Late Sunday, Air Canada said that six flights had been cancelled and roughly 500 customers had been impacted.

“Due to the security situation in Puerto Vallarta,  Air Canada has temporarily suspended operations there today [Sunday],” said Air Canada in a written statement.

“We have cancelled three flights to and three flights from PVR to and from Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, representing just under 500 customers in total each way.”

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Depending on the airline and type of booking, some customers may be able to modify or cancel their travel plans if they don’t want to wait to see how the situation in Mexico evolves.

Air travel bookings may include flexibility options for changes or cancellations, which often come at a higher price premium, while most basic fare options mean customers have to pay a penalty to make any changes or request a refund.

But some airlines are making exceptions to these policies, given the circumstances, by waiving change fees and penalties to offer more flexibility for customers — even for the most basic fares.

Although all flights scheduled for Feb. 23 into and out of Puerto Vallarta have been cancelled by major Canadian airlines, all have confirmed through statements that there are some flexible change options for flights scheduled through Feb. 25.

In most cases, this means customers with flights scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday into and out of Puerto Vallarta and some other Mexican destinations will be able to modify their bookings without having to pay a penalty.

“A flexible policy is in place until the 25th, meaning customers can change their ticket without incurring change fees (a price difference may apply), regardless of the fare they purchased. They can do that on the website or the app,” said Air Canada in a statement sent to Global News Monday.

Similar flexibility options are being offered through Westjet, along with Sunwing Airlines, Air Transat and Porter Airlines, according to separate statements sent to Global News on Monday.

“WestJet’s flexible/change policy has been put into effect for guests travelling to PVR, GDL and ZLO over the next two days. For guests currently in destination, WestJet and Sunwing are arranging extended stays so guests can comply with local official guidelines,” said WestJet in a written statement.

“Exceptional flexibility conditions are offered to travellers with a scheduled flight to Puerto Vallarta on Feb. 24 or 25. They may change their booking without penalty, or cancel their trip and receive a travel credit valid for 12 months from the original return date,” said Air Transat in a written statement.

“Puerto Vallarta operations are currently suspended due to airport restrictions. Two round-trip flights from Ottawa and Toronto were cancelled today. Passengers are currently being offered complimentary flight changes through Feb. 25,” said Porter Airlines in a written statement.

Sunwing also shared a statement, citing WestJet’s flight cancellations.

Sunwing is owned by WestJet.

“Change fees will be waived or you may request a refund to your original form of payment. Customers with imminent travel plans are encouraged to check the status of their flight prior to heading to the airport. Please contact our Sales Centre or Group Sales team … for flexible booking options if you are scheduled to travel to Puerto Vallarta between February 22 and 25,” said Sunwing Airlines in a statement.

Are you a Canadian in Puerto Vallarta right now? Reach out to us at shareyourstory@globalnews.ca or using the contact form below to share your experience and how we can get in touch with you.

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a bid by ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy to scuttle a lawsuit brought by officials in Boulder, Colorado that seeks to hold the oil companies liable for helping fuel climate change in a case that could affect dozens of similar lawsuits ‌around the country.

The justices on Monday took up an appeal by the companies of a lower court’s ruling that let the litigation ⁠move forward.

The suit alleging state law violations by the ‌companies seeks unspecified monetary damages for costs incurred by Boulder associated with mitigating the impact of climate change.

President Donald Trump’s administration backed the appeal by the oil companies.

The Boulder litigation is the ⁠latest chapter in efforts by numerous U.S. jurisdictions seeking damages from companies that extract, produce, distribute or sell fossil fuels. ‌

These plaintiffs are seeking compensation for harms they attribute to the role these companies played in causing climate change.

The burning of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases such as ⁠carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, causing more of ‌the sun’s heat to be trapped, which leads to a rise in the average global temperature over time.

The Boulder government officials in their 2018 lawsuit accused the U.S.-based Exxon and Canada-based Suncor of misleading the public about the role that their products played in exacerbating climate change while profiting from unchecked fossil fuel sales.

The companies deny wrongdoing.

The plaintiffs have said the oil companies should cover past and future costs incurred by the city and ‌county governments for steps taken to mitigate the effects of climate change, citing infrastructure repairs, environmental damage, emergency management and harms to public health.

The companies urged lower courts ⁠to dismiss the case, arguing among other things that Boulder’s lawsuit would illegally interfere with the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.

The Colorado Supreme Court in May 2025 denied their request, prompting the appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Oil companies for years have been trying to avoid the
burgeoning volume of ​climate-related litigation, but so far have achieved little success.

Nearly 60 state and local governments have brought lawsuits like ​these seeking billions of dollars in damages, with more continuing to be filed, the companies told the Supreme Court in a filing.

The ‌Trump administration has acted in various ways to bolster the companies’ positions.

Last year, it launched two preemptive cases seeking to stop Hawaii and Michigan from filing climate-related lawsuits against oil majors that the administration said would imperil domestic energy ⁠production.

The Supreme Court previously turned away a ‌similar bid by Sunoco and other oil companies to throw out a climate-related lawsuit by Honolulu after Hawaii’s top court ‌allowed it to proceed.

That lawsuit seeks to hold ​the companies liable for their alleged role in contributing to extreme weather affecting ⁠the region, as well ⁠as a significant rise in the average sea level along the Honolulu Pacific coastline, a development linked to flooding, erosion and beach loss.

Kyra McDonald has achieved a lifelong dream.

The 22-year-old hockey player grew up playing on the boys team in her hometown of Inuvik, N.W.T.

Since then, her love of the sport has taken her to Alberta, where she played competitively as a teenager. Now she’s playing for the Trinity Western University Spartans in Langley, B.C.

Her hockey career is set to take her to Switzerland next year, where she has been signed to play for Fribourg-Gottéron, a professional team.

She said the chance to keep playing hockey past university is a “dream come true.”

“The fact that it’s a reality, that I get to play professional hockey, is kind of mind-blowing,” she said.

Between the limited opportunities to play hockey in Inuvik and starting competitive leagues later than her peers, she said she frequently dealt with anxiety and self-doubt. That makes her success now especially meaningful.

“I’m so proud of myself, ’cause I definitely just have had that mindset just of trying to keep getting to that next level somehow.”

The moment McDonald was told she had been signed to a European team, she shared the news with people who matter the most, her parents and siblings.

Her dad, Tim Gordon, was delighted. Gordon, a former Junior A player, shares McDonald’s obsession with hockey and was coach in Inuvik.

He said it was an emotional moment to hear his daughter would be playing in Europe. He said it made him think about how far she’s come.

“It’s hard to explain, but just happy and excited and a proud moment,” he said.

McDonald first left home at 15 to play for a AAA team in St. Albert, Alta., and Gordon remembers how hard it was to say goodbye to her though he knew it was the next step in doing what she loved. 

He attributes his daughter’s success to one simple thing. 

“She just loves the game,” he said.

He remembers her as a five-year-old waking up every morning asking if she could play hockey that day. She wanted to be at the arena every chance she got, he recalled.

McDonald said she is excited to move to Europe this fall and start taking in the sights.

For now though, she is focused on her last playoff run with the Trinity Western University Spartans and the semi-finals happening this coming weekend.

Gordon said he and McDonald’s mother are already saving up their vacation days so they can visit her in Switzerland.

A 38-year-old Prince County man is dead after a vehicle rollover on Route 2 in Carleton.

West Prince RCMP received a call on Monday at about 7 a.m. about a crash of a single vehicle that left the road and rolled. Island EMS and the O’Leary Fire Department were sent to the scene.

The victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was the lone occupant of the vehicle.

An RCMP collision analyst was notified and the province’s coroner’s office was also made aware of the accident. 

The investigation is ongoing. 

A man died following a car crash in Surrey, B.C., Sunday night, according to police.

First responders were called to 168 Street, north of 40 Avenue, just after 9:30 p.m. PT for reports of a vehicle that had “rolled over into a water-filled ditch,” the Surrey Police Service (SPS) said in a news release.

Firefighters removed the driver, a man in his 20s who was the lone occupant of the car, police said, but he later died in hospital.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation and the SPS collision investigation unit has taken over.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or who may have dash-cam footage of the area is asked to contact the police non-emergency line at 604-599-0502.

Російський диктатор Володимир Путін доклав чимало зусиль, аби переконати світ у неминучості поразки України, попри те, що це не відповідає дійсності. Як пише Foreign Policy, його найбільший успіх був досягнутий не на фронті, а в боротьбі за вплив на громадську думку. 

Зокрема після зустрічі з президентом РФ на Алясці американський лідер Дональд Трамп перейшов від вимог негайного припинення вогню до тиску на Київ з метою передачі Росії не окупованих територій, спираючись на помилкову думку, що росіяни точно переможуть. 

“Вони набагато більші. Вони набагато сильніші”, – сказав Трамп, надаючи Росії “перевагу” в Україні.

Як зазначає Foreign Policy, наратив Путіна про неминучу перемогу РФ полягає у неправдивих твердженнях, а саме: 

• український фронт на межі колапсу;
• Росія захопить території, на які претендує;
• Росія має людські ресурси та засоби для ведення війни необмежений час;
• Україна не може перемогти російську армію.

“Посилаючись на розгром німецького Вермахту Радянською Червоною Армією під час Другої світової війни, Кремль хоче, щоб ми вважали, що сьогоднішні набагато менші російські збройні сили є нестримним катком, якому судилося перемогти”, – додають у публікації.

Видання наголошує, що це є більше, ніж пропаганда, адже це система “когнітивної війни”, яка покликана сформувати уявлення західних лідерів та підштовхнути їх до рішень, які вигідні Росії та невигідні Україні. 

“Москва прагне переконати свою аудиторію, що єдиним розумним результатом є остаточне врегулювання на умовах Росії. Катастрофічний наратив натякає, що капітуляція перед Росією є гуманною, оскільки вона врятує життя солдатів і цивільних осіб, які в іншому випадку будуть знищені. Путін ефективно ввів катастрофічний наратив в міжнародний інформаційний простір і переговори між США та Росією”, – підкреслили у Foreign Policy.

Крім того, Путін та його соратники приховують реальність, що російські війська просуваються на фронті зі швидкістю черепахи, досягаючи невеликих успіхів з шаленими втратами. Журналісти нагадали, що у 2025 році РФ захопила лише 0,8% території України, що значно нижче типових показників у сучасній механізованій війні.

“Припускаючи, що Росія зможе продовжувати бойові дії і просуватися вперед такими ж темпами, як наприкінці 2025 року, їй знадобиться час до серпня 2027 року, щоб захопити решту Донецької області, і до квітня 2029 року, щоб захопити Донецьк разом із рештою Запорізької та Херсонської областей – три регіони, які вона оголосила анексованими у 2022 році. Захоплення всієї України зайняло б приблизно століття”, – прогнозують у виданні.

У Foreign Policy наголосили, що військова потужність РФ є обмеженою, а припущення, що вона може воювати вічно, є хибним, адже війна накладає високі витрати на економіку. 

“Ситуація України на полі бою є складною, але не критичною. Хоча Росія залишається небезпечною, крах української оборони малоймовірний. Оскільки лінія фронту є величезною зоною знищення дронів, обидві сторони застрягли в позиційній війні з обмеженими можливостями для швидких маневрів”, – зауважили у матеріалі.

Тому, як підсумували у виданні, вирішальним полем битви у цій війні є міжнародна підтримка України.

“Путін правильно оцінює, що якщо він зможе пережити Захід – або, ще краще, переконати його відмовитися від України – Росія переможе. Неправдивий наратив про неминучу перемогу Росії не повинен впливати на політику Заходу”, – наголосили у публікації.

Мирні переговори – останні новини

Раніше керівник Офісу президента Кирило Буданов висловився про мирні переговори з Росією. За його словами, перемовини щодо досягнення миру йдуть непросто, проте Україна рухається вперед і підходить до моменту, коли всім сторонам потрібно буде приймати остаточні рішення.

“Такі війни не закінчуються самі по собі. Вони або завершуються справедливим рішенням, або неодмінно повертаються у ще більш масштабній і небезпечній формі”, – наголосив Буданов. 

Водночас у Forbes пояснили, що заважає припиненню війни в Україні. Журналісти зазначили, що “головним каменем спотикання” у переговорному процесі залишається територія України, оскільки Москва вимагає від Києва віддати контрольовані нею території на півдні та сході країни. 

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