Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

25 Mar

Canada Raises Federal Minimum Wage to $18.15 per Hour from April 1

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness$18.15 hourly wage Canada, Canada minimum wage 2026, Employment and Social Development Canada, federal wage increase Canada

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): The federal minimum wage in Canada is set to increase to $18.15 per hour starting April 1, according to an announcement by Employment and Social Development Canada. The current federal minimum wage stands at $17.75 per hour, which has been in effect since April 1, 2025. The latest increase is aimed at keeping pace with inflation and ensuring greater financial stability for workers. The federal minimum wage applies to employees in federally regulated sectors such as interprovincial transportation, telecommunications and banking. The government also clarified that if a province or territory has a higher minimum wage, employers…

25 Mar

Punjabi Lawyer Dies Suddenly in Canada, Wave of Grief in Fatehgarh Sahib

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, India, PunjabBig news, Canada, Died, Punjabi Lawyer

Rajeev Sharma :- A tragic incident from Canada has left the Punjabi community in deep shock after a 45-year-old lawyer from Fatehgarh Sahib passed away suddenly. The deceased has been identified as Harshwinder Singh Cheema, whose untimely demise has created an atmosphere of mourning among his family, colleagues, and well-wishers. According to initial information, the cause of death is believed to be a cardiac arrest. Cheema had moved to Canada nearly three years ago on a work permit along with his family in search of better opportunities and a stable future. His sudden death has not only devastated his family…

25 Mar

Delhi Police bust arms trafficking module linked to Pakistan, Bangladesh; 10 key operatives held

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaDelhi Police, New Delhi

Rajeev Sharma :- In a significant breakthrough, Delhi Police Crime Branch busted a transnational arms traficking module operating from within Walled city and arrested ten key operatives. The police have also seized 21 sophisticated firearms along with 200 live cartridges. A total of 21 high-end foreign-made weapons, including: Submachine guns, PX-5.7 pistols, PX-3 pistols, Shadow CZ pistols, Beretta pistols, Taurus pistols, Walther pistols were recovered including the PX-5.7 pistol, which is exclusively used by special forces. The arms were smuggled into India from Pakistan through the Indo-Nepal border and were being supplied to criminal gangs across Delhi-NCR and other states.

25 Mar

Congress gets notice to vacate Delhi’s Akbar, Raisina Road offices by March 28

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia

National Times Bureau :- The Congress Party has received a notice to vacate two of its most prominent party offices in the national capital. In a development most likely to snowball into a political flashpoint between the government and the opposition, the veteran party has been asked to vacate its national headquarters at 24 Akbar Road and another key premises at 5 Raisina Road by March 28. A senior Congress leader confirmed that the notices were received a few days ago, leaving the party with little time to respond. “We are exploring legal options available before us but this time…

25 Mar

Dubai Gold Plunges 14 Days Straight; 24K Hits Dh523 (₹13,380), India Prices Remain Higher

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsDubai, Gold

Dubai ( Bureau):– Dubai’s gold market is witnessing a dramatic slide, with 24-karat gold dropping to Dh523.25 per gram, marking the 14th consecutive day of decline amid global economic uncertainty. Even 22K gold fell below Dh485 per gram, rattling bullion traders and buyers. The fall is driven by rising global interest rates, a stronger U.S. dollar, and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have intensified market volatility. When converted to Indian currency, the Dubai 24K gold price translates to approximately ₹13,380 per gram (1 AED ≈ ₹25.57), which is still lower than retail prices in India, where 24K gold…

25 Mar

RCMP Raids Homes of Calgary Political Figures, Including Former Mayor Jyoti Gondek, in Expanding Corruption Probe

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, CanadaCalgary

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): A widening corruption investigation led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has sent shockwaves through Calgary City Hall, after search warrants were executed at the homes of multiple high-profile political figures, including former mayor Jyoti Gondek. Authorities confirmed that warrants were carried out at the residences of Gondek, former Ward 4 councillor Sean Chu, and current Ward 10 councillor Andre Chabot as part of an ongoing probe into alleged corruption. All three individuals have stated they are fully cooperating with investigators. Gondek confirmed that police attended her home with a warrant and seized her cellphone. In a…

25 Mar

Minimum Wage Goes Up, But Not for Most Albertans: Ottawa Raises Federal Rate to $18.15/hr While Alberta Stays at $15

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Calgary ( Rajeev Sharma): The Government of Canada has announced an increase in the federal minimum wage to $18.15 per hour, up from $17.75, as part of its annual adjustment tied to inflation. The policy ensures that wages for federally regulated workers keep pace with the rising cost of living, rather than being influenced by political decisions. The federal minimum wage applies only to employees working in federally regulated sectors, including banking, telecommunications, interprovincial transportation, railways, and airports. This covers a range of roles such as call centre agents, clerks, cleaners, warehouse workers, and baggage handlers. However, many of these…

24 Mar

Premier Smith Admits Initial Deadlines for Carney-Smith Pipeline Deal Will Be Missed

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaAlberta pipeline deal, CERAWeek 2026, Danielle Smith, industrial carbon pricing, Mark Carney, Pathways Alliance

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta Premier Danielle Smith confirmed on Monday, March 23, 2026, that the first set of deadlines in the high-profile energy and environment agreement with Prime Minister Mark Carney are not expected to be met. Speaking from the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, Texas, Smith acknowledged that while several components are nearing completion, the April 1 target for a comprehensive deal remains out of reach. The memorandum of understanding, signed last November, was designed to fast-track a new oil pipeline to the British Columbia coast in exchange for Alberta’s alignment with federal climate goals. The delays are primarily…

24 Mar

Justice Minister Sean Fraser Rejects Provincial Demands for Final Say in Judicial Appointments

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaDanielle Smith Alberta, Doug Ford Ontario, judicial appointments Canada, Mark Carney Prime Minister, Sean Fraser Justice Minister

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, dismissed a joint request from four provinces seeking a more authoritative role in the nomination of judges. Premiers Danielle Smith of Alberta, Scott Moe of Saskatchewan, Doug Ford of Ontario, and François Legault of Quebec co-signed a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, demanding a "substantive role" in selecting judges for superior courts, provincial courts of appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada. The premiers argued that Canada is an "outlier" compared to other federal systems like the United States, Australia, and Germany, where sub-national governments hold…

24 Mar

Canada Flags Over 150,000 Student Permit Violations, Raising Fraud Concerns

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada study permit fraud, immigration non-compliance, international student violations, IRCC audit 2026, Karen Hogan Auditor General, Lena Metlege Diab

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Canada is facing growing concern over the integrity of its international student system after a federal audit revealed that more than 150,000 study permit holders were flagged for potential violations between 2023 and 2024. The report by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) highlights serious gaps in monitoring and enforcement, including cases linked to suspected fraud, fake admission letters, and students failing to comply with study permit conditions. Despite the scale of the issue, officials reportedly have the capacity to investigate only a small fraction of these cases each year, leaving tens of thousands unchecked. The audit…