Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

21 Feb

India and Brazil Target $20 Billion Trade Milestone Following Modi-Lula Summit

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, India, World NewsDigital Public Infrastructure, Global Biofuel Alliance, India Brazil Bilateral Trade, MERCOSUR Trade Expansion, Modi-Lula Summit 2026

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have charted an ambitious economic roadmap, setting a bilateral trade target of $20 billion over the next five years. During a high-level summit in New Delhi on Saturday, the two leaders held extensive discussions aimed at elevating their strategic partnership. Highlighting Brazil’s status as India’s primary trading partner in Latin America, Prime Minister Modi characterized the burgeoning economic ties as a "reflection of trust" between the two emerging global powers. The bilateral talks focused heavily on technological integration and the expansion of the MERCOSUR…

21 Feb

Ontario and Western Provinces Fast-Track Early Alcohol Sales for Olympic Gold Medal Final

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, OntarioAGCO Liquor License Extension, Doug Ford 6am Alcohol, Ontario Olympic Alcohol Hours, Team Canada Gold Medal Game

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): In a rare move to accommodate sports fans across the country, the Ontario government has announced that bars and restaurants may begin serving alcohol as early as 6:00 a.m. ET this Sunday. The temporary policy shift, announced by Premier Doug Ford, comes just in time for the Canadian men’s hockey team’s gold medal showdown against the United States at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. The decision followed a dramatic 3-2 semifinal victory over Finland, secured by a late-game goal from star forward Nathan MacKinnon. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) clarified that this provincial edict applies…

21 Feb

A New Chapter for PHAC: Dr. Joss Reimer Takes the Helm as Canada’s Top Doctor

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Joss Reimer, PHAC Appointment 2026, Public Health Agency of Canada

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): The federal government has officially appointed Dr. Joss Reimer as Canada’s next Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO), filling a high-profile vacancy left by Dr. Theresa Tam's retirement last June. Dr. Reimer, a veteran physician and former President of the Canadian Medical Association, was formally introduced by Health Minister Marjorie Michel on Friday. She is slated to begin her three-year term on April 1, 2026, assuming leadership of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) during a period of mounting clinical and social challenges. Dr. Reimer is widely recognized for her previous role as the medical lead for…

21 Feb

Canadian Dollar Slides as Markets Weigh Retail Slump and Landmark U.S. Tariff Ruling

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): The Canadian dollar edged lower, capping a volatile week as investors balanced disappointing domestic retail data against a high-stakes U.S. Supreme Court decision that invalidated President Donald Trump’s broad emergency tariffs. The loonie fell 0.1% to trade at 1.3687 per U.S. dollar, ending a week that saw the currency lose 0.5% of its value. While a cooling inflation trend in Canada had already weakened the currency, a strengthening U.S. dollar and geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East further pressured the exchange rate. A major driver of market sentiment was the U.S. Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling, which struck…

21 Feb

Canada Fast-Tracks Gulfstream Certifications Amid Escalating Trade Tensions with U.S.

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaAerospace Trade Relations, Canada Gulfstream Approval, Transport Canada Certification, Trump Trade Tariffs, US-Canada Aviation Policy

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): The Canadian government has officially moved to approve a select number of Gulfstream business jets for operation, a decision that arrives during a period of intense diplomatic friction between Ottawa and Washington. This regulatory shift follows recent threats from the Trump administration involving significant cross-border tariffs and the potential de-certification of various trade agreements. The approval by Transport Canada marks a strategic pivot in the nation’s aviation oversight, as officials navigate a complex landscape of economic pressure and industrial necessity. Historically, the certification process for high-end American aerospace products in Canada has been a meticulous and often…

21 Feb

Security alert in Delhi: Intel warns of attacks by Pak’s Lashkar; Red Fort among key cites on target

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsEntertainment, India, TrendingHigh Alert, India, New Delhi, Red Fort

New Delhi, Rajeev Sharma :- Security agencies have raised an alert in the national capital following inputs of a potential terror attack targeting key cites including the Red Fort and a temple in the Chandni Chowk. According to intelligence sources, key religious places including the places around the Red Fort and parts of Chandni Chowk, remain on the radar of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The inputs indicate that the group might be plotting an improvised explosive device (IED) attack with a temple in the Chandni Chowk area potential target. According to the alert, the suspected plot is linked…

21 Feb

Canada Seeks Court Order to Keep Classified Information Confidential in Nijjar Case

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingCanada

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): The Canadian government has applied to the Federal Court for permission to withhold certain classified materials in proceedings connected to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, citing concerns over national security and diplomatic sensitivities. According to filings reported by Global News, lawyers for the federal Attorney General invoked Section 38 of the Canada Evidence Act to prevent the disclosure of information they argue could be harmful to international relations or security interests if made public during the trial. The application indicates that, over the past two years, federal authorities received multiple notices flagging material deemed potentially sensitive…

21 Feb

Alberta Surpasses 6,100 Kilometres in Caribou Habitat Restoration Since 2019

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta, Calgary

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta says it has restored more than 6,100 kilometres of legacy seismic lines across caribou ranges since 2019, marking a sharp increase in habitat recovery efforts compared to previous years. According to the province, just 87 kilometres were rehabilitated between 2015 and 2019. The acceleration follows the launch of Alberta’s Caribou Habitat Recovery Program, which coordinates large-scale restoration projects aimed at supporting the long-term survival of the species while maintaining economic activity. Environment and Protected Areas Minister Grant Hunter said the province is pairing conservation with economic growth. He credited partnerships with Indigenous communities and industry for…

21 Feb

Super-heavy loads affect travel in Edmonton region

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingEdmonton

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Drivers may experience delays as large, slow-moving vessels move from Edmonton to Fort McMurray on Feb. 22, and from Edmonton to Fort Saskatchewan on Feb. 24. Due to their large size and weight, the first load will travel at a maximum speed of 50 km/h, and the second at 40 km/h. The loads will move with guide vehicles, below posted speed limits, using the entire width of the highway, including the shoulder. Route Edmonton to Fort McMurray De-methanizer pressure vessel used in natural gas processing. The first load will leave Thermo Design Engineering in south Edmonton using…

21 Feb

Alberta Government Advances Expedited Viability Review for Town of Gibbons

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta, Calgary, Canada

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s Minister of Municipal Affairs, Dan Williams, says the province is moving ahead with an expedited viability review for the Town of Gibbons as local officials grapple with mounting financial pressures. In a statement issued following meetings with Gibbons’ mayor and council, Williams said the province has already implemented several measures to stabilize the municipality while the review is underway. These include appointing an official administrator to provide oversight and guidance, temporarily extending the town’s debt limit, and approving a $500,000 grant through the Alberta Community Partnership program. Williams described the viability review as a structured process…