Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

15 Jan

British Columbia to End Drug Decriminalisation Pilot After Mixed Outcomes

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, CanadaBritish Columbia drug policy, drug decriminalisation Canada, harm reduction, opioid crisis

Vancouver, January 15, 2026: Canada’s western province of British Columbia has announced it will allow its drug decriminalisation pilot programme to lapse at the end of January, marking a significant shift in its approach to tackling the opioid crisis. Launched in 2023 as a three-year trial, the initiative was designed to reduce overdose deaths and encourage people struggling with addiction to seek treatment by removing criminal penalties for possession of small quantities of illicit drugs. British Columbia was the only province in the country to implement such a policy. However, provincial health authorities now say the programme has not produced…

15 Jan

Canadian National Killed in Iran Amid Crackdown on Protests, Ottawa Says

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada-Iran relations, Canadian citizen death, Global Affairs Canada, human rights violations, Iran protests

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): A Canadian citizen has died in Iran while in the custody of Iranian authorities, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand confirmed on Thursday, amid an intensifying crackdown on anti-government protests in the country. In a statement shared on social media, Anand condemned the Iranian regime’s actions against demonstrators and urged authorities to halt violence against civilians. She said Canada’s consular officials are in touch with the deceased individual’s family and extended condolences on behalf of the government. According to international human rights monitors, more than 2,600 people have been killed since widespread protests erupted in Iran in late…

15 Jan

Drone Sightings Reported in Jammu Sector; Indian Army Activates Counter-Measures

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBorder Security, counter-UAS, defence sources, drone sightings, Indian Army, Jammu sector

Jammu, January 15, 2025: Two separate incidents of drone sightings were reported in the Jammu sector, prompting the Indian Army to activate counter unmanned aerial systems (Counter-UAS) measures, defence sources said on Thursday. According to the sources, unidentified drones were detected in sensitive areas of the sector, following which troops deployed electronic and tactical counter-measures to neutralise any potential threat. The situation was brought under control without any reported damage or casualties. Security agencies are maintaining heightened vigilance in the region, and surveillance has been intensified to prevent any cross-border infiltration or aerial intrusion. Officials said such incidents are being…

15 Jan

US freezes immigrant visas processing for 75 countries; Pak, Bangladesh hit

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, World News

National Times Bureau :- The Trump administration has suspended visa processing for visitors from 75 countries—including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria, Thailand, Iraq, Egypt, and Yemen—starting January 21. A senior U.S. official confirmed that the U.S. State Department issued an internal memo instructing embassies and consulates to pause all visa issuance indefinitely while screening and vetting procedures are reassessed. Key Points The suspension is tied to concerns that applicants from these countries might become a “public charge”—a term used in U.S. immigration law for people likely to rely on government assistance. Consular officers have been directed to…

15 Jan

IndiGo plane last to cross Iran before sudden airspace shutdown; Indian airlines warn of disruptions

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaIndiGo

National Times Bureau :- An IndiGo aircraft flying from Tbilisi in Georgia to Delhi is believed to have been the final non-Iranian commercial flight to transit Iranian airspace before Tehran abruptly suspended civilian aviation operations early Thursday, triggering widespread disruptions across international routes. According to flight-tracking data, IndiGo flight 6E 1808 departed Tbilisi at 11.29 am on Wednesday and arrived in Delhi at 7.03 am on Thursday. The aircraft crossed Iranian airspace at around 2.35 am, shortly before Iran issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) announcing the closure of its skies. Following the sudden decision, major Indian carriers, including IndiGo,…

15 Jan

Punjab Chief Minister to Present Himself Before Akal Takht Amid Controversy

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsPunjab, TrendingBhagwant Mann, Punjab

Amritsar (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is expected to appear before the Akal Takht secretariat at 11 am today following accusations that certain comments made by him hurt Sikh religious sentiments. Mann arrived in the holy city on Wednesday in anticipation of the summons issued by Sikh clergy. Sources within the Akal Takht secretariat said preparations were carried out under the guidance of officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj. An official noted that although the secretariat usually begins functioning at 9.30 am, additional arrangements were made in view of the Chief Minister’s visit, including the presence of designated…

15 Jan

Canada Resumes LMIA Processing in Eight Regions, Opening Doors for Foreign Workers

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, CanadaCanada

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canada has officially resumed Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) processing under the Low-Wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) in eight regions, creating new opportunities for foreign workers and employers, according to Chanda Immigration. The move follows updated labour market data showing unemployment rates have fallen below the federal six per cent threshold, allowing low-wage hiring to resume in previously restricted areas. Eligible regions include Vancouver, Winnipeg, Halifax, Kingston, Montréal, Moncton, Saint John, and Fredericton. Employers in these regions can now submit LMIA applications to hire foreign workers across sectors such as hospitality, retail, caregiving,…

15 Jan

ESCALATING EXTORTION ATTACKS PUT SURREY’S SMALL BUSINESSES UNDER PRESSURE

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingSurrey

Surrey,/ Newton ( Rajeev Sharma): Surrey police are investigating a fresh case of suspected extortion related violence after a business in the Newton neighbourhood was targeted in a shooting early morning Wednesday, underscoring growing safety concerns for business owners across the region. According to the Surrey Police Service (SPS), officers responded to a shots-fired call at approximately 2:10 a.m. in the 8000 block of King George Boulevard, near 80th Street. When police arrived, they found the front of a business damaged, with multiple bullet holes visible in the windows. No one was inside at the time, and no injuries were…

15 Jan

Wedding Photography Business Owner Shot Dead in Surrey; IHIT Rules Out Gang Conflict

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingSurrey

Surrey ( Rajeev Sharma) : Homicide investigators have released the identity of a man who was found suffering from fatal gunshot wounds on a Surrey street Tuesday afternoon. Shortly after 12 p.m., the Surrey Police Service (SPS) responded to reports of a man lying near a property on 176 Street, just north of the Grandview Heights area. When officers arrived, they located the injured man, who was later pronounced dead at the scene. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) was called in shortly afterward and has since taken over the investigation. On Wednesday, in an effort to advance the case,…

14 Jan

Ontario Court Orders Air Canada to Pay $15,000 to Passenger After 24-Hour Flight Delay

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaAir Canada, flight delay compensation, Ontario Superior Court, passenger rights, Rejean Landry

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): More than three and a half years after an Ottawa man’s flight to Portugal was delayed by over 24 hours, the Ontario Superior Court has ordered Air Canada to pay Rejean Landry and his two adult children $15,000 in compensation. The ruling follows a small claims court decision over a year ago that had already sided with Landry, who represented himself. “It was just clearcut: There were too many planes, not enough employees, and it was their fault that the plane was late,” Landry said. “They pretty much never showed any argument to say otherwise. They just…