Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

21 Jan

Poilievre Rules Out Battle River-Crowfoot Run in Next Canadian Federal Election

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaBattle River-Crowfoot, Conservative Party of Canada, Damien Kurek, Pierre Poilievre

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): The Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) has confirmed that party leader Pierre Poilievre will not contest the Battle River-Crowfoot riding in the next federal election. Poilievre had previously represented the Ontario riding of Carleton for several years but lost the seat in April’s federal election to Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy. Following that defeat, he entered Parliament through a byelection in Alberta’s Battle River-Crowfoot constituency. On Tuesday, the CPC announced that former MP Damien Kurek will once again run as the Conservative candidate in Battle River-Crowfoot. Kurek had vacated the seat last year to allow Poilievre to contest…

21 Jan

Canadian Military Simulates Hypothetical US Invasion Amid Rising Strain With NATO Allies

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaArctic security, Canada-US relations, Canadian Armed Forces, hypothetical invasion, NATO

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): For the first time in more than a century, the Canadian military has developed a theoretical model outlining its response to a possible United States invasion, reflecting heightened diplomatic and strategic tensions between Washington and its NATO allies, according to a report by The Globe and Mail. The model, described as precautionary and purely hypothetical, details a multi-layered defence strategy by the Canadian Armed Forces in the event of a US military incursion. Senior officials familiar with the plan said it focuses on asymmetric warfare, including drone operations, sabotage and ambush tactics, while also factoring in requests…

21 Jan

Canada Probes Foreign Links in Extortion Racket, Says Asylum Claims Offer No Immunity

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingCanada

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian authorities have intensified their crackdown on a wave of extortion cases in British Columbia, with investigators examining the involvement of 111 foreign nationals as part of a wide-ranging probe spanning multiple provinces. Officials have made it clear that refugee or asylum status will not shield suspects from criminal or immigration operation. In an operational update released late Wednesday (India time), the British Columbia Extortion Task Force said it is sifting through vast amounts of evidence, including hundreds of hours of CCTV footage, to dismantle networks believed to be behind threats and extortion attempts targeting communities in…

21 Jan

Republic Day Rehearsals to Temporarily Halt Flights at Delhi IGI Airport from Jan 21–26

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingRepublic Day

New Delhi ( Gurpreet Singh): Air travel through Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Delhi, is expected to face notable disruptions between January 21 and January 26, as aviation authorities implement temporary restrictions ahead of India’s Republic Day celebrations.According to an official Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), all flight operations both arrivals and departures, will be paused daily from 10:20 AM to 12:45 PM during this six-day period. The suspension is required to facilitate security drills, parade rehearsals, and Indian Air Force flypast practices, which are an integral part of Republic Day preparations. The daily shutdown of approximately 2 hours and 25…

21 Jan

Mark Carney’s Davos Address Sparks Debate on Breakdown of Global Order

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingMark Carney

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos has drawn wide attention for its stark warning that the international system is no longer evolving gradually but fracturing under mounting geopolitical pressure. Speaking on Tuesday at the 56th annual WEF summit, Carney argued that the world is entering a period of sharp disruption, where long-standing norms and institutions are being undermined by power politics. He cautioned against the growing tendency to use trade, finance and supply chains as instruments of pressure, saying such practices threaten sovereignty and long-term stability. Without naming countries directly,…

21 Jan

NASA astronaut Sunita William retires after 27 years and 608 days in Space

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusinessSunita Williams

National Times Bureau :- NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, whose planned 10-day space mission extended to nearly nine-and-a-half months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), has retired after a 27-year career. NASA announced her retirement on Tuesday, which officially took effect on December 27, 2025, shortly after Christmas. Selected by NASA in 1998, the Indian-origin astronaut spent a total of 608 days in space across three missions, the second-highest cumulative time logged by a NASA astronaut. She also ranks sixth for the longest single spaceflight by an American astronaut, tied with fellow NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore, with both spending 286 days…

21 Jan

Sanatan Students’ Society to Host Second Annual Saraswati Puja at University of Calgary on 27 January

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCalgary, Saraswati Puja

Calgary ( Rajeev Sharma): The Sanatan Students’ Society at the University of Calgary will organize Saraswati Puja on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, to worship Maa Saraswati, the Goddess of Wisdom, Knowledge, and Arts. The full-day spiritual and cultural celebration is open to everyone. The daytime program will run from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM at the MacEwan Student Centre, South Courtyard, featuring Saraswati Puja, Prasad, Kirtan, and a variety of art and cultural activities. The evening segment will take place from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Dining Centre, Vitruvian Space (DC14), with cultural performances followed by food and…

20 Jan

Trump Threatens 200% Tariff on French Wine Over Paris’ Snub to ‘Board of Peace’ Plan

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsBoard of Peace, Donald Trump, France-US relations, French wine tariff, tariff threat

Washington, January 20, 2026: US President Donald Trump has issued a sharp warning to France, saying his administration could impose a 200 per cent tariff on French wines and champagnes after Paris declined to join his proposed ‘Board of Peace’ initiative aimed at resolving global conflicts. Responding to questions from reporters, Trump took a swipe at French President Emmanuel Macron over France’s reported decision to stay out of the initiative. He suggested that economic pressure could force a change in stance, claiming that steep tariffs on French exports might prompt Paris to reconsider its position. Sources close to Macron confirmed…

20 Jan

Toronto Braces for Fresh Snowfall and Deep Freeze After Major Winter Storm

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaAlberta Clipper, extreme cold, oronto weather, Snowfall, wind chill, winter storm

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): Toronto is set for another round of wintry weather this week, with fresh snowfall and sharply colder temperatures forecast in the aftermath of a storm that dumped up to 40 centimeters of snow in parts of the city. Meteorologists say an Alberta Clipper system is expected to move into the region early Wednesday morning, bringing light snow by around 7 a.m. The system is likely to leave about five centimeters of accumulation by Wednesday night. Following last week’s historic snowfall, residents are now facing biting wind chills and persistent cold. Tuesday’s daytime high is expected to reach…

20 Jan

Minor Earthquake Recorded Near Quebec–Ontario Border, No Damage Reported

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, OntarioEarthquake, Earthquakes Canada, Gatineau, Ottawa, Quebec–Ontario border

Ontario (Rajeev Sharma) — A small earthquake was felt near the Quebec–Ontario border early Tuesday morning, according to Earthquakes Canada. The agency confirmed that the tremor, measuring 2.8 magnitude, occurred at approximately 4:55 a.m. Officials said there were no reports of damage and none were expected given the low intensity of the quake. Residents in several communities may have noticed light shaking, including parts of Buckingham and Gatineau in Quebec, as well as Hawkesbury and Ottawa in Ontario. The region is known for occasional seismic activity and has experienced multiple earthquakes over the past few decades, some exceeding magnitude 5.0.…