Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

13 Mar

Afghanistan Accuses Pakistan of Airstrikes in Kabul and Kandahar Amid Escalating Border Tensions

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsAfghanistan

Kabul (Rajeev Sharma): Authorities in Afghanistan have accused neighbouring Pakistan of carrying out aerial bombardments in several parts of the country, including the capital and the southern province of Kandahar, marking a sharp rise in hostilities between the two nations. A spokesperson for the ruling Taliban administration claimed that Pakistani aircraft targeted multiple sites during the strikes. Among the locations reportedly hit was a fuel storage facility owned by the Afghan private airline Kam Air situated near Kandahar International Airport. According to the spokesperson, bombs struck the fuel depot close to the airport complex, though officials have not yet released…

12 Mar

New Iranian Leader Vows Retaliation as West Asia Conflict Widens

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsDonald Trump, Mojtaba Khamenei, oil prices, Retaliation, Strait of Hormuz, West Asia

Tehran (Rajeev Sharma)— In a stern first address on Thursday, March 12, 2026, Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed to "avenge the blood of Iranians" and warned that Tehran would continue its campaign against American military installations in the region. The message, delivered via state television, comes as the Islamic Republic navigates a volatile leadership transition following the death of Ali Khamenei in recent U.S.-Israeli strikes. Khamenei’s statement was deeply personal, acknowledging the loss of his father, wife, and other family members during the opening salvos of the conflict. He emphasized that the "lever of blocking the Strait of…

12 Mar

United States Launches Sweeping Section 301 Trade Probe Against 16 Nations Including India

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, World NewsIndia US trade, Jamieson Greer, Manufacturing, Section 301, Trade Probe, USTR

Washington, D.C. (Rajeev Sharma)— The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced the initiation of a massive investigation into the trade practices of 16 major global partners. The probe, launched under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, targets economies accused of maintaining "structural excess capacity" in their manufacturing sectors, a move that signals a significant escalation in the Trump administration's efforts to reshape global supply chains and protect American industry. The investigation covers a broad spectrum of economies, including China, India, Japan, the European Union, South Korea, and Mexico. Other nations under scrutiny include Singapore, Switzerland,…

12 Mar

Niagara Regional Chair Bob Gale Resigns Abruptly Following ‘Mein Kampf’ Controversy

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, OntarioAnti-Racism, Bob Gale, Mein Kampf, Niagara Region, Resignation

Niagara, Ontario (Rajeev Sharma) — In a sudden and dramatic exit from municipal politics, Niagara Regional Chair Bob Gale resigned his post late Wednesday, March 11, 2026, just hours after local anti-racism groups went public with evidence that he owned a signed copy of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf. The resignation was tendered to Ontario Municipal Affairs Minister Rob Flack, who accepted it effective immediately. The controversy was ignited by a joint statement from the Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association (NRARA) and Justice 4 Black Lives Niagara. The groups produced a 2010 invoice showing Gale purchased the book—inscribed by Hitler to "close…

12 Mar

Canada’s Trade Deficit Triples in January as Auto Exports Stall

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, CanadaAuto Exports, Canada trade, energy trade, StatCan, Trade Deficit

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma) — Canada’s merchandise trade deficit widened significantly to C$3.65 billion in January 2026, far exceeding the C$900 million gap analysts had forecasted. According to data released by Statistics Canada on Thursday, March 12, the deficit nearly tripled from December’s revised C$1.3 billion, marking the largest percentage decline in exports in nearly a year. The primary driver behind the widening gap was a sharp 21.2% plunge in the export of motor vehicles and parts, which hit its lowest level since September 2021. Officials attributed the decline to "prolonged seasonal production stoppages" as Canadian plants underwent extensive retooling for…

12 Mar

Wrong Turn at Peace Bridge Leads to Arrest of Three Canadians with Forged Passports

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaBorder Arrest, Passport Forgery, Peace Bridge, RCMP

Fort Erie, Ontario (Rajeev Sharma) — What started as a simple navigational error ended in a major criminal bust on Thursday, March 12, 2026, after three Quebec residents were intercepted at the Peace Bridge port of entry with a cache of forged documents and fraudulent financial tools. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) reported that the suspects were caught after accidentally driving toward the U.S. border and being forced to turn back into Canada. Upon their return to the Canadian side, the suspects were referred for secondary screening by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers. The subsequent search of the…

12 Mar

Legal trouble mounts for Hardik Pandya as Pune lawyer files complaint over disrespect to national flag during victory celebrations

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaHardik Pandaya

Rajeev Sharma :- Hardik Pandya, India’s all-rounder, has landed in legal trouble after a Pune-based advocate filed a complaint with the police, accusing him of disrespecting the Indian national flag during the T20 World Cup victory celebrations in Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. The complaint was submitted at the Shivaji Nagar Police Station and relates to India’s on-field celebrations after the team lifted the ICC Men's T20 World Cup for a record third time. A police officer confirmed on Wednesday that advocate Wajid Khan had submitted the application seeking appropriate action, though further details were not disclosed. "According to Section…

12 Mar

Iran Seeks Long-Term Security Pledge from US as Part of Ceasefire Proposal

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsIran

Tehran (Rajeev Sharma): Iran has reportedly conveyed through diplomatic intermediaries that it would consider a ceasefire only if the United States provides assurances that neither Washington nor Israel will carry out future military strikes against the country. According to officials familiar with the discussions, the message was delivered through discreet diplomatic channels involving several European and Middle Eastern governments. These backchannel exchanges are aimed at exploring possible ways to halt the ongoing conflict and reduce tensions in the region. Sources said Tehran’s primary concern is the possibility that Israel could launch additional attacks once the current hostilities subside. As a…

12 Mar

Oil Markets Rattle as Brent Crosses $100 Amid Rising Gulf Shipping Attacks

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, Trending, World NewsIran, Israel, Oil

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): International oil prices climbed sharply on Thursday as mounting tensions in the Persian Gulf pushed Brent crude above the $100-per-barrel mark, raising fresh concerns about global energy supplies and economic stability. The surge came after reports of intensified Iranian attacks on commercial vessels operating near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route for global oil transport. Market reaction was swift, with Brent crude recording a jump of more than 9% during early trading hours. Just days earlier, the benchmark had briefly surged close to $120, highlighting the volatility gripping energy markets. Meanwhile, the United States’…

11 Mar

Historic Coincidence: 2026 Calendar Matches 1914, A Year That Changed the World

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld News1914, 2026 Calendar, Geopolitics, Global Security, History, World War I

Calgary ( Rajeev Sharma): A striking historical coincidence has captured global attention in 2026: the calendar of this year is identical to that of 1914 the year the world plunged into the catastrophic conflict known as World War I. Both 1914 and 2026 begin on a Thursday and are non-leap years with 365 days, meaning every date in 2026 falls on the exact same weekday as it did in 1914. The year 1914 marked one of the most dramatic turning points in modern history. On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip. The assassination…