Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

11 Jan

X admits lapses, deletes over 600 accounts over Grok obscene images row: Govt sources

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, World NewsGrok AI, X

National Times Bureau :- Social media platform X has acknowledged its error and assured the Indian government that it will operate in line with Indian laws, government sources said, following controversy over misuse of its AI tool, Grok. As per officials, X has taken down about 3,500 pieces of content and removed more than 600 accounts that violated Indian regulations. The company has also stated it will no longer permit obscene imagery on its platform. This response came after the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued a notice on January 2, giving X 72 hours to comply with…

11 Jan

US Intensifies Military Campaign Against ISIS With Fresh Syria Airstrikes

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsSyria

Syria (Rajeev Sharma): American forces have launched another extensive round of air attacks on Islamic State strongholds in Syria, expanding a military operation initiated after a deadly assault on US personnel last month. The strikes, carried out around early afternoon Eastern Time, targeted several ISIS positions across different parts of Syria, according to US Central Command. The operation was conducted in coordination with allied partners and is intended to weaken the militant group’s operational capabilities. The renewed offensive falls under Operation Hawkeye Strike, a response ordered by President Donald Trump following the ambush near Palmyra that killed two US service…

10 Jan

Canada Condemns Iran’s Crackdown as Protests Stretch Into Second Week

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, World NewsCanada Iran relations, Iran protests, Iranian crackdown, Mark Carney, travel advisory Iran

Ottawa, January 2026: As nationwide protests in Iran enter their second week, Canada has strongly criticised what it describes as an escalating and violent crackdown by Iranian authorities on demonstrators. Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a post on social media platform X, denounced the Iranian regime’s response to the unrest, expressing deep concern over reports of violence and repression. “The reports of violence, arbitrary arrests, and intimidation tactics by the Iranian regime against its own people are profoundly concerning,” Carney said. He added that Canada “strongly condemns the killing of protesters” and urged Iranian authorities to respect freedom of expression…

10 Jan

Eurasia Group Warns Canada Could Bear Brunt of US Political Turmoil in 2026

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada-US relations, Donald Trump, Eurasia Group report, Mark Carney, US tariffs

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canada is likely to face the most severe consequences of political instability in the United States next year, according to a new report released by global risk consultancy Eurasia Group on Friday. The firm cautioned that rising uncertainty in Washington and a hardening trade environment could significantly reshape Canada’s economy and its long-standing relationship with its closest ally. The report argues that the traditional Canada–US partnership has entered a fundamentally different phase, driven by US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House and his confrontational approach to governance and trade. It warns that Trump’s efforts to…

10 Jan

Decades-Old Highway Murder Case Reaches Closure as Accused Extradited to Canada

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish ColumbiaBritish Columbia murder case, extradition to Canada, highway rest stop killing

Victoria, B.C. (Rajeev Sharma): More than 20 years after a brutal killing at a remote highway rest stop in northern British Columbia, an American man has been brought to Canada to face justice for the crime. James Daniel Morgan, already serving a lengthy prison sentence in the United States for an unrelated murder, appeared before a B.C. court on Friday in connection with the 2001 death of 74-year-old James Hamrick. Hamrick, a great-grandfather from the United States, was travelling through Canada in his camper when he was killed near Prince George in September 2001. Investigators say Hamrick had offered Morgan…

10 Jan

Canada Names Experience-Heavy Hockey Squad for Milano Cortina Winter Olympics

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): The Canadian women’s hockey team is set to bring a wealth of international experience to the ice at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics next month, with a roster that blends proven champions and emerging talent. Hockey Canada on Friday announced a 23-player squad that includes 20 players from the team that finished runner-up to the United States at the 2025 World Championships in the Czech Republic. Sixteen players from the gold medal-winning team at the 2022 Beijing Olympics have also been retained, underlining Canada’s intent to rely on a core that has delivered success on the biggest…

10 Jan

Canadian Job Market Sees Modest Gains in December; Unemployment Edges Up

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingCanada

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canada’s labour market added a modest 8,200 jobs in December, according to Statistics Canada, while the national unemployment rate rose to 6.8 per cent, up from 6.5 per cent in November. The increase in the jobless rate reflects more Canadians entering the labour force, a sign of growing confidence among job seekers. The December figures follow three months of robust hiring, with the economy adding 181,000 positions from September through November. Earlier in 2025, job growth had stalled due to trade uncertainties and U.S. tariffs. RBC assistant chief economist Nathan Janzen described the higher participation rate as…

10 Jan

Alberta Launches Public Portal for Proposed BC Bitumen Pipeline

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): The Alberta government has unveiled a new online platform to provide information on its proposed bitumen pipeline to northwest British Columbia, highlighting a commitment to transparency and public engagement. The website aims to clarify common misconceptions about the project, including rumors that construction has already started, that Alberta is fully funding the pipeline, or that a route has been finalized. In reality, the province has dedicated $14 million to early-stage planning and is seeking private-sector leadership alongside partnerships with Indigenous communities. Officials said the pipeline could transport up to one million barrels of crude per day to…

10 Jan

Alberta Premier Urges Ottawa to Fast-Track Major Energy Projects Amid Global Oil Shifts

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingAlberta

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to accelerate federal approvals for major energy projects, calling for applications to be green-lit within six months rather than the current two-year target. In a letter shared publicly on Friday, Smith highlighted recent developments in Venezuela, including the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and U.S. plans to boost Venezuelan oil production, as a key reason for speeding up Canadian approvals. “Renewed Venezuelan crude production will compete directly with Canadian heavy oil for limited refinery capacity,” Smith wrote, noting that delays could risk Canada’s market share and investment…

10 Jan

British Columbia Sees Above-Average Snow Levels as Winter Progresses

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): British Columbia’s snow pack is off to a strong start this year, with levels slightly above the seasonal average, according to the province’s latest snow survey and water supply bulletin. Issued on January 9, the report indicates that the provincial snow pack stands at 107 per cent of normal levels for this time of year, compared with 87 per cent on January 1, 2025. Regional variations are significant. While the South Coast basin and Vancouver Island are below average—at 67 per cent and 58 per cent, respectively—the Central Coast, Similkameen, and Nechako regions are well above…