Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

13 Feb

India Clears ₹3.25 Lakh Crore Plan for 114 Rafale Jets in Biggest-Ever Defence Procurement

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): In a major push to strengthen its air power, India has approved a proposal worth ₹3.25 lakh crore for the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), making it the largest defence acquisition in the country’s history, according to media reports. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the project ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s scheduled visit to India. Under the proposed framework, 18 aircraft will be purchased in fly-away condition from French manufacturer Dassault Aviation, while the remaining…

13 Feb

Zimbabwe Shocks Australia in T20 World Cup Upset with Dominant All-Round Display

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsSportsBlessing Muzarabani bowling, Brian Bennett innings, Zimbabwe upset Australia, Zimbabwe vs Australia T20 World Cup

Colombo (Rajeev Sharma): Zimbabwe delivered a commanding all-round performance to pull off a major upset in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup, defeating former champions Australia by 23 runs on Friday. The victory marked only the second time Zimbabwe have beaten Australia in a T20 World Cup, the previous win coming in the 2007 tournament. After being put in to bat, Zimbabwe posted a competitive total of 169 for 2 in their 20 overs. Opener Brian Bennett led the effort with a composed unbeaten 64 off 56 balls, hitting seven boundaries. He received solid support from Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan…

13 Feb

Watchdog Faults Military Probe Into Air Force Officer’s Case, Urges Apology to Family

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanadian military investigation, Maj Cristian Hiestand case, Military Police Complaints Commission Canada

OTTAWA (Rajeev Sharma): Canada’s civilian watchdog for military police has found serious shortcomings in an internal investigation that led to sexual assault charges against a Royal Canadian Air Force officer who later died by suicide, and is calling for a formal apology to his family. In reports released Thursday, the Military Police Complaints Commission (MPCC) concluded that the investigation into Maj. Cristian Hiestand was flawed by “multiple failures,” including confirmation bias, lack of oversight and an undue rush to lay charges. MPCC chair Tammy Tremblay said investigators relied on assumptions, failed to pursue key evidence such as search warrants, and…

13 Feb

Air Canada Sees Corporate Travel Shift to Europe and Asia as Trade Focus Moves Beyond U.S.

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaAir Canada corporate travel, Canada trade diversification, Canada-US travel decline, premium travel demand 2026

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Air Canada is witnessing a sharp rise in overseas corporate travel as Canadian businesses increasingly look beyond the United States to expand trade ties, a senior company executive said on Friday. The Montreal-based carrier has recorded nearly a 30 per cent increase in corporate traffic on long-haul routes across the North Atlantic, with growing demand for travel to Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Chief Commercial Officer Mark Galardo said the trend reflects Canada’s efforts to diversify its trade partnerships and reduce reliance on the U.S. market. The country’s largest airline expects this shift to support strong international…

13 Feb

Canadian PM Mark Carney to Attend Vigil After Deadly School Shooting in Tumbler Ridge

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to the remote British Columbia town of Tumbler Ridge on Friday to attend a vigil for victims of one of the country’s deadliest mass shootings, his office said. According to police, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar fatally shot her mother and stepbrother on Tuesday before opening fire at a local school, killing a teacher and five young students. The accused later died by suicide. In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said Carney would attend the vigil on February 13 at the invitation of Tumbler Ridge’s mayor and had invited leaders…

13 Feb

Indian woman Sarabjit Kaur, now Noor Fatima, reunites With Pakistani husband after shelter stay

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Punjab, World NewsPakistan, Sarabjit Kaur

National Times Bureau :- Sarabjit Kaur, an Indian national from Kapurthala in Punjab who married a Pakistani citizen during her visit to Pakistan as part of a Sikh jatha, has now reached the home of her husband, Nasir Hussain, after being released from a women’s shelter facility. Speculation had been circulating in recent weeks about her possible return to India. However, following her release from a shelter home in Pakistan, videos surfaced showing her expressing happiness and confidence about her decision to stay with her husband. Speaking to local media, Sarabjit Kaur, also known as Noor Fatima Hussain, shared her…

13 Feb

Tarique Rahman set to become Bangladesh PM as BNP secures commanding victory in national elections; PM Modi reacts

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaPM Narendra Modi

National Times Bureau :- The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, is heading towards a resounding majority in the country’s parliamentary elections held on Thursday, paving the way for the 60-year-old leader to assume the office of prime minister. According to unofficial figures emerging from the Election Commission and party insiders, Rahman has won from both Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 constituencies. The BNP, which contested 292 of the 300 parliamentary seats while leaving the remainder to its allies, appears poised to secure a comfortable two-thirds majority in the Jatiya Sangsad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to Tarique…

13 Feb

Porter Airlines Plane Slides Off Runway at Halifax Airport, All On Board Safe

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World News

Halifax (Bureau): A Porter Airlines Embraer E195 aircraft experienced a runway excursion while landing at Halifax Stanfield International Airport, prompting an immediate response from airport emergency crews. The jet came to rest off the paved surface of the runway, leading to temporary operational disruptions as authorities secured the area and assessed the situation. Airport officials confirmed that all passengers and crew were safely evacuated from the aircraft, and no serious injuries were reported. Emergency services remained on site as precautionary measures, while airport operations were briefly affected during the response. An investigation is expected to determine the factors that contributed…

12 Feb

UN Report Flags Pakistan-Based JeM’s Role in Red Fort Attack, Notes New Women’s Wing

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaJaish-e-Mohammed Red Fort attack, Jamaat ul-Muminat, Masood Azhar women’s wing, Pakistan-based terror group, UN report JeM

New York/New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): A United Nations Security Council monitoring report has highlighted the continued activities of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), including its claimed involvement in multiple attacks and a reported link to the November 10 assault on Delhi’s Red Fort that left 15 people dead. The findings are part of the 37th report of the UN’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, which assesses threats from entities listed under the global counter-terrorism sanctions regime. According to the report, one Member State informed the team that JeM had claimed responsibility for several attacks during the reporting period and…

12 Feb

Alberta Teen Gets 3-Year Intensive Treatment Sentence for Attempted Murder of Younger Brother

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness

Lethbridge (Rajeev Sharma): A 13-year-old boy from Lethbridge, Alberta, has been sentenced to three years in custody and supervision after pleading guilty to attempting to kill his seven-year-old brother in a stabbing attack last year. The sentence, handed down Wednesday, is the maximum permitted under the Youth Criminal Justice Act and will be served as an Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision (IRCS) order. The specialized sentence is reserved for young offenders who commit serious violent crimes and have significant mental health needs requiring treatment. Under the order, the teenager will spend the first two years in secure custody, where he…