Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

25 Feb

Jason McKay Sentenced Again to Life in Prison for 2017 Murder of Wife

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaJason McKay sentencing Regina, Jenny murder case 2017, Justice Beverly Klatt ruling, Regina second-degree murder plea

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Nearly nine years after the brutal killing of his wife, Jason McKay has been sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 17 years. This decision, handed down by Justice Beverly Klatt at the Court of King’s Bench on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, mirrors the original sentence McKay received in 2020 before a successful appeal led to a retrial. McKay formally pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on January 23, 2026, marking the end of a long and painful legal journey for the victim's family. The case dates back to September 2017, when 33-year-old Jenny…

25 Feb

Strategic National Expansion Drives Profit Surge for National Bank of Canada

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, CanadaCanadian Western Bank acquisition, CWB integration update, National Bank of Canada earnings Q1 2026, National Bank profit growth

Montreal (Rajeev Sharma): National Bank of Canada reported a robust increase in its first-quarter earnings on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, largely credited to the successful integration of the Canadian Western Bank (CWB). The Montreal-based financial institution, which ranks as Canada’s sixth-largest lender, outperformed market expectations by leveraging its newly expanded footprint in Alberta and British Columbia. This strategic acquisition has transitioned the bank from a regional powerhouse in Quebec to a formidable national player, providing a significant lift to its bottom line during a period of economic transition. Financial disclosures indicate that the CWB deal accounted for a nearly 20%…

25 Feb

University of Toronto PhD Student Arrested in Pakistan Over Social Media Posts

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, World NewsHamza Ahmed Khan arrest Pakistan, NCCIA Pakistan cyber crime, Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, University of Toronto PhD student detained

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): The family of Hamza Ahmed Khan, a University of Toronto PhD student and dual Canadian-Pakistani citizen, has raised urgent concerns following his arrest by Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). Ahmed Khan, who was in Pakistan to conduct research for his dissertation on the politics of democracy promotion, went missing on Thursday, February 19, 2026, while traveling via a ride-hailing service in Lahore. His family only discovered his whereabouts on Sunday after being informed by a local journalist that he was being held in a Lahore district jail. According to the NCCIA, Ahmed Khan was taken…

25 Feb

OpenAI Under Fire After Tumbler Ridge Massacre: Missed Opportunities and AI Safety Protocols Questioned

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada AI Minister Evan Solomon, Jesse Van Rootselaar mental health, OpenAI ChatGPT ban mass shooter, Tumbler Ridge shooting Jesse Van Rootselaar

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): The revelation that OpenAI banned the ChatGPT account of mass shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar months before she killed eight people in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, has sparked intense scrutiny over AI safety and law enforcement intervention. In the wake of one of Canada's most devastating mass killings, federal officials and crime experts are questioning whether the tech giant's failure to report the 18-year-old’s violent online behavior constitutes a catastrophic missed opportunity for prevention. Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon has formally summoned OpenAI officials to Ottawa to provide an account of their safety protocols and reporting thresholds. The…

25 Feb

Shots fired at car of Lawrence Bishnoi’s lawyer by unknown assailants in Delhi, one injured

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAttack, Lawrence Bishnoi

New Delhi, Rajeev Sharma :- A vehicle carrying a lawyer connected to jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s legal team was shot at near the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT) in Delhi’s Kashmere Gate area late on Tuesday. Police said unidentified attackers fired multiple rounds at the car. Apart from the lawyer, four other individuals were inside the vehicle during the incident. According to the reports, one person sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder. Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Raja Banthia confirmed that the injured individual has been hospitalised and is in stable condition. An investigation is underway to track down those…

24 Feb

India, Israel Begin Free Trade Pact Talks as PM Modi Embarks on State Visit

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, World NewsBenjamin Netanyahu meeting, bilateral trade agreement 2026, India Israel FTA talks, Narendra Modi Israel visit

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): India and Israel have formally launched the first round of negotiations for a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day state visit to Israel starting February 25. The inaugural round of discussions, being held in New Delhi from February 25 to 26, follows the signing of the ‘Terms of Reference’ in November 2025, which laid out the roadmap for structured negotiations aimed at strengthening bilateral trade and economic ties. Trade Expansion in Focus Merchandise trade between the two countries reached USD 3.62 billion in FY 2024–25. Officials said the proposed FTA…

24 Feb

Gun Rights Advocates Plan Saturday Rally in Quebec City Amid National Controversy

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaAssault-Style Firearms Compensation Program, Firearms Ban Canada, Gary Anandasangaree, National Firearms Association, Quebec Gun Rally

Quebec City (Rajeev Sharma): Groups opposed to the federal government’s firearms ban and the recently launched Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP) are organizing a major rally this Saturday, February 28, 2026. The protest, set to take place outside the Quebec National Assembly, aims to challenge what advocates call the "ideological scapegoating" of law-abiding gun owners. The timing of the event has drawn sharp criticism, coming just weeks after a tragic mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., on February 10, which claimed nine lives. While gun control groups like PolySeSouvient have labeled the rally "insensitive" and a "slap in the face"…

24 Feb

US Supreme Court Curbs Presidential Power on Tariffs, Sparks Political and Market Reactions

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness

Washington (Bureau): In a landmark development, the U.S. Supreme Court has reinforced that the constitutional authority to impose taxes and broad tariffs lies with the U.S. Congress, not with the president acting unilaterally under emergency powers. The ruling, delivered by a 6–3 majority, underlined that while the president can act in limited trade matters under specific statutes, sweeping “global tariffs” cannot be justified solely on the basis of national emergency declarations. The decision is seen as a setback to the protectionist trade approach long advocated by President Donald Trump, whose economic agenda relied heavily on tariffs as a tool to…

24 Feb

Project Road King: Police Recover $3.8 Million in Stolen Vehicles Linked to Ontario Crime Syndicate

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, CanadaAuto Theft Canada, drug trafficking, Niagara Regional Police, Organized Crime Ontario, Project Road King, Stolen Vehicles

Victoria (Rajeev Sharma): A joint-forces investigation led by the Niagara Regional Police Service has successfully intercepted dozens of stolen vehicles at a port in British Columbia, dealing a significant blow to an organized crime group based in Ontario. On Tuesday, officials provided a major update on "Project Road King," revealing the recovery of 43 high-value vehicles worth an estimated $3.8 million just before they were shipped to international markets. The operation, which began in 2024, has now resulted in more than 200 charges against 30 individuals. Investigators from the RCMP, CBSA, and police departments in Hamilton and Brantford utilized forensic…

24 Feb

‘To Make India, Canada Safe, We Need to Talk’: High Commissioner Patnaik on Tackling Extremism and Organized Crime

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, IndiaAjit Doval Canada visit, Dinesh Patnaik, India-Canada security, Mark Carney India visit 2026, transnational crime

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): In a major step toward normalizing diplomatic relations, India and Canada have agreed on a comprehensive security action plan to address transnational crime and violent extremism. Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, confirmed on Tuesday that both nations have recognized the urgent need for "on time and online" cooperation to safeguard their citizens. The breakthrough follows high-level discussions between India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart, Nathalie Drouin, during Doval’s recent visit to Ottawa. The newly established framework aims to streamline communication through the appointment of dedicated liaison officers. This system is…