Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

01 Mar

Uncertainty Deepens Over Khamenei’s Fate as Reports of Family Casualties Spark Street Reactions

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsAyatollah Ali Khamenei

Tehran (Rajeev Sharma): Fresh claims emerging from regional and international media suggest that several relatives of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were killed during coordinated military strikes allegedly carried out by Israel with US backing. Among those reported dead are his daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and a grandchild. However, Iranian authorities have not officially confirmed these reports, and there remains no verified statement on Khamenei’s own condition. The reported strikes, said to have targeted high-profile locations in Tehran, have intensified already volatile tensions across West Asia. While some outlets cited unnamed Iranian sources regarding the deaths of family members, the…

01 Mar

Tehran Announces Death of Ayatollah Khamenei After Joint US-Israel Offensive; Nationwide Mourning Begins

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsAyatollah Khamenei

Tehran (Rajeev Sharma): Iran has formally acknowledged the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following large-scale strikes carried out by the United States and Israel, triggering an unprecedented political and security crisis in the region. Authorities declared a 40-day period of national mourning as the country grapples with the fallout of the attack. State media reported that Khamenei was killed during coordinated strikes that targeted key government and military sites in Tehran early Saturday morning. Officials said his body was recovered from the rubble of a heavily damaged compound linked to the leadership. Senior figures in Iran described…

01 Mar

Gunfire in NW Calgary Home Ends With Arrest, Police Probe Firearms Offences

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingCalgary

Calgary ( Rajeev Sharma): — A man has been arrested after reports of gunshots at a northwest Calgary home triggered a police response late Friday night. Officers were called to a residence in the 100 block of Panatella Square NW shortly before 10 p.m. following multiple 911 calls about loud bangs believed to be gunfire. According to Calgary Police Service, responding officers found damage to the home consistent with shots being fired. Police entered the residence and located an adult male inside, who was taken into custody without incident. No injuries were reported at the scene, and there was no…

28 Feb

Gulf Airspace Shuttered: Dubai Aviation Hub Paralysed as Israel-US Strikes on Iran Trigger Regional Chaos

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsAir India Gulf flights suspended, Dubai airport closure 2026, Emirates flight cancellations, Israel US strike Iran news, Middle East airspace closed

Dubai (Bureau) — The geopolitical landscape of the Middle East shifted dramatically on Saturday, February 28, 2026, as the joint Israel-US military offensive against Iran triggered a total paralysis of the Gulf’s aviation corridors. Dubai, one of the world's most critical commercial and transit hubs, has seen its flight connections decimated following the partial closure of United Arab Emirates (UAE) airspace. Dubai Airports, which manages both Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC), issued an urgent advisory on Saturday evening, requesting that passengers refrain from heading to the airports as over 100 international airlines grapple with widespread cancellations. The…

28 Feb

“Deeply Appalled”: Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim Apologizes to Councillor Sean Orr for False Drug Distribution Claims

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma) — Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has officially apologized to City Councillor Sean Orr for making unsubstantiated and "defamatory" claims that the opposition councillor was distributing illegal drugs. The apology, delivered via a phone call on Thursday and confirmed by the Mayor in a media scrum on Friday, February 27, 2026, follows a week of political turmoil at City Hall after video evidence surfaced of the Mayor initiating the false rumours. The controversy stems from a February 6, 2026, media briefing intended for Chinese-speaking reporters. During the session, Mayor Sim was recorded claiming that Orr, a COPE party…

28 Feb

“Convincing, Compelling, and Destructive”: Toronto Police Sound Alarm as AI-Driven Fraud Losses Hit $433 Million

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaAI scams Canada, David Coffey financial crimes, fraud losses 2025 statistics, pig butchering scam Toronto, Toronto Police fraud report 2025

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma) — The Toronto Police Service has issued a dire warning to the public following a staggering 17 per cent increase in financial losses to fraud, which reached $433 million in 2025. Despite a slight dip in the total number of reported cases, investigators say the emergence of sophisticated Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools has made individual scams far more effective and devastating. Det. David Coffey, head of the Financial Crimes Unit, noted that while scams have been a persistent issue, the integration of AI in mid-2025 caused the threat to "take off like a rocket." The primary concern…

28 Feb

Loonie Hits 11-Day High as Resilient Domestic Demand Overshadows GDP Contraction

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, CanadaBank of Canada interest rate news, CAD vs USD exchange rate today, Canada GDP contraction Q4, Canadian dollar 11-day high 2026

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma) — The Canadian dollar (CAD) surged to an 11-day high on Friday, February 27, 2026, as investors focused on robust underlying economic details despite a headline contraction in the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The currency’s resilience comes as a surprise to many, especially following data from Statistics Canada showing the economy shrank at an annualized rate of 0.6% in the fourth quarter of 2025—a figure significantly weaker than the flat growth markets had anticipated. The primary driver behind the headline "GDP collapse" was a massive inventory drawdown, the largest in three years, which acted as a…

28 Feb

Missiles Exchanged as Iran Responds to Israel-US Strikes; Blasts Reported Across Gulf Region

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsIran, Israel

Tehran (Rajeev Sharma): Tensions in West Asia escalated sharply on Saturday as Iran launched a wave of missiles toward Israel following coordinated strikes by Israel and the United States on targets in Tehran, triggering fears of a wider regional conflict. Reports of explosions also emerged from parts of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, heightening anxiety across the Gulf. The Israeli military said multiple projectiles were fired from Iranian territory in what it described as an “additional barrage.” According to officials, air defence systems were activated across several parts of the country as sirens sounded to warn residents.…

28 Feb

IPS Officer Rajiv Ranjan Singh Appointed as New DIG, Chandigarh

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, PunjabChandigarh News

Chandigarh(Naval Kishore) : Senior IPS officer Rajiv Ranjan Singh has been appointed as the new Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Chandigarh, marking an important administrative move aimed at strengthening the region’s law and order framework. Before this posting, R.R. Singh was serving as Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) in the Eastern Range of Delhi, where he handled key operational and administrative responsibilities. Known for his strategic policing approach and field experience, his transfer is being seen as a step toward reinforcing security preparedness and leadership at a crucial post. According to official sources, the appointment is part of a broader…

28 Feb

Mark Carney’s India Visit Reflects Ottawa’s Strategic Shift, Says Former Envoy Ajay Bisaria

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, India, TrendingMark Carney

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Former Indian High Commissioner to Canada Ajay Bisaria has said Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s maiden official trip to India signals renewed confidence in India’s economic trajectory and underscores the potential benefits for Canada in strengthening bilateral ties. Speaking to PTI, Bisaria observed that Carney’s decision to begin his visit in Mumbai highlights Ottawa’s recognition of India’s rapid growth and expanding global influence. According to him, deeper engagement with India could generate significant returns for Canadian investors while also offering access to one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing consumer markets. Bisaria noted that Canada appears…