Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

25 Jan

Canada rules out free trade pact with China amid tariff warning from Donald Trump

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingCanada, Mark Carney

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday clarified that Ottawa has no plans to pursue a formal free trade agreement with China, responding to sharp warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump over deepening economic ties between the two countries. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Carney said recent discussions with Beijing were aimed at resolving trade imbalances and addressing market access challenges rather than forging a broader trade pact. He pointed to ongoing negotiations related to Chinese electric vehicles, agricultural commodities and seafood exports as part of efforts to stabilise bilateral commerce. Carney also underlined Canada’s obligations under…

25 Jan

Deep freeze grips Canada, straining power grids and grounding flights nationwide

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingCanada

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): A sweeping blast of Arctic air has tightened its grip across much of Canada, putting immense pressure on power utilities and disrupting air travel, as temperatures plunged to dangerous lows on Saturday. From the eastern seaboard to the Prairie provinces, communities braced for brutal wind chills and extreme cold, with meteorologists warning that some Prairie regions could experience conditions equivalent to –55°C. The prolonged cold spell has forced residents indoors and triggered emergency responses in several cities. In Ontario, frigid winds pushed “feels-like” temperatures in Toronto and Ottawa beyond –30°C, prompting municipalities to expand operations at warming…

25 Jan

Mark Carney urges Canadians to back homegrown industry after Donald Trump’s tariff warning

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingDonald Trump, Mark Carney

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called on citizens to rally behind domestic producers and workers, unveiling a sweeping “Buy Canadian” drive just hours after US President Donald Trump threatened steep trade penalties over Ottawa’s growing engagement with China. In a video message shared online, Carney said the new policy reflects a strategic shift aimed at insulating Canada’s economy from mounting external pressures. He encouraged consumers, businesses and public institutions to prioritise Canadian-made goods and services, presenting the move as both an economic and national resilience measure. “With rising uncertainty in global markets, Canadians are choosing to…

25 Jan

Rescue teams brave subzero cold to save stranded family in British Columbia

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): A family of four was brought to safety after becoming stranded overnight in freezing conditions along a remote forest road in British Columbia’s Central Okanagan region, officials confirmed. Volunteers from Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) were mobilised in the early hours of January 24 following a distress call from the group, whose vehicle became immobilised on Bear Main Forest Service Road near Islaht Lake. The area, known for rugged terrain and limited connectivity, posed significant challenges for rescuers. According to COSAR, active logging operations had left the roadway coated in ice, making it treacherous to navigate.…

25 Jan

Winter storm disrupts air travel across Canada, leaving thousands stranded

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, Trending

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): Severe winter weather sweeping across large parts of Canada has thrown air travel into disarray, forcing airlines to cancel or delay hundreds of flights and leaving thousands of passengers stranded at major airports. Operations were heavily affected at key hubs in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver and Halifax as bitter cold, strong winds and heavy snowfall created hazardous conditions for aircraft movements and ground handling. According to airport authorities and flight tracking data, more than 225 flights were cancelled while over 300 departures and arrivals faced delays through the day. Toronto Pearson International Airport recorded the highest number…

25 Jan

India emerges as key partner as British Columbia seeks deeper trade ties

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): British Columbia Premier David Eby has said that major Indian corporations are showing strong interest in investing in Canada’s energy and mineral sectors, signaling a significant shift in bilateral economic engagement as relations between the two countries begin to stabilize. Speaking after a trade mission to India, Eby said he held discussions with senior executives from companies including Tata Steel, Reliance Industries, Indian Oil Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum, focusing on opportunities in liquefied natural gas (LNG), clean energy and critical minerals. The delegation also met India’s energy minister and representatives from leading industrial groups such as…

25 Jan

Alberta premier rejects claims that separatists seek U.S. statehood, stresses renewed ties with Ottawa

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on Saturday dismissed suggestions that supporters of separatism in the province aim to join the United States, pushing back against recent remarks made by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Bessent, speaking during an interview on a conservative American television network, claimed that Alberta residents were increasingly discussing sovereignty and hinted at the possibility of a referendum on whether the province should remain part of Canada. He also suggested that closer alignment with the U.S. could benefit Alberta, citing energy resources and trade potential. Addressing the comments during her weekly radio programme, Your Province,…

25 Jan

Burnaby shooting: 28-year-old Indian-origin man killed, investigators probe gang rivalry angle

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBurnaby

Burnaby (Rajeev Sharma): A fatal shooting in Burnaby, British Columbia, has claimed the life of a 28-year-old man of Indian origin, prompting an intensive investigation by Canadian law enforcement agencies. Police believe the killing may be part of a wider pattern of gang-related violence that has troubled parts of the region in recent months. The victim, identified as Dilraj Singh Gill, was gunned down late Thursday afternoon near the Canada Way corridor. Emergency crews arrived at the scene shortly before 5.30 pm after residents reported hearing multiple gunshots. Gill was found critically injured and, despite sustained resuscitation attempts, was declared…

25 Jan

Surrey Basement Shooting Kills One, Injures Another; IHIT Says Attack Was Targeted

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingSurrey

Surrey ( Rajeev Sharma): A shooting inside a basement suite of a residential home in Surrey has left one man dead and another injured, prompting a homicide investigation by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT). The incident occurred early Saturday morning at approximately 4:55 a.m. in the 12500 block of 91 Avenue, according to the Surrey Police Service (SPS). Police said officers, along with BC Emergency Health Services paramedics and Surrey Fire Service crews, responded to reports of gunfire at the address. Upon entering the home, first responders located two adult men suffering from gunshot wounds. One victim was pronounced…

24 Jan

US Signals Possible Rollback of Russian Oil Tariffs on India as Imports Decline

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaDonald Trump, energy imports, India Russia oil trade, India US relations, Scott Bessent, US tariffs

New Delhi, January 24, 2025: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said there is a possible “path” to remove the 25 per cent tariffs imposed on India over its purchase of Russian oil, asserting that New Delhi’s imports from Moscow have sharply declined following the US action. The remarks come amid strained India–US ties after President Donald Trump imposed sweeping 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, including a specific 25 per cent levy linked to India’s Russian oil purchases. Bessent described the measure as effective, claiming it had achieved its intended outcome. “We put 25 per cent tariffs on…