Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

19 Jan

Mark Carney Calls Chinese EV Deal a ‘Chance’ for Ontario’s Auto Industry Amid Criticism

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingMark Carney

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Prime Minister Mark Carney described the recent agreement with China on electric vehicles as a potential boost for Ontario and Canadian autoworkers, despite concerns from Premier Doug Ford and the Canadian Auto Workers union. Speaking at a news conference in Doha, Carney said Chinese companies have shown interest in producing “affordable” electric vehicles in Canada, signaling opportunities for local industry. “We’ve had direct conversations with Chinese companies expressing explicit interest in partnering with Canadian firms,” Carney said. “We’ll see what comes to pass. This is an opportunity for Ontario, for workers, and for Canada, done in a…

19 Jan

December Floods in B.C. Cause Nearly $900M in Insured Losses, IBC Calls for Faster Investment in Resilience

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): Severe storms and flooding that swept across southern British Columbia and parts of Alberta in December have resulted in significant insured damages, with estimates approaching $900 million, according to data from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ) cited by the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). The Fraser Valley was particularly hard-hit, accounting for roughly $74 million of the losses, primarily affecting homes and businesses. Floodwaters breached borders into Abbotsford-area neighborhoods and farmland, inundating poultry barns and prompting emergency evacuations, reports said. IBC emphasized that these recurring flood events underline the urgent need for the province to…

19 Jan

Deadly Wildfires Sweep Through Chile, Killing 18 and Displacing Tens of Thousands

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsChile

Chile (Rajeev Sharma): Central and southern Chile are grappling with catastrophic wildfires that have claimed at least 18 lives, destroyed hundreds of homes, and forced tens of thousands to flee, officials said Sunday. The blazes, fueled by a severe heat wave, have already consumed more than 8,500 hectares (21,000 acres) of forest. Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in the Biobío and Ñuble regions, about 500 kilometers south of the capital, Santiago. The measure allows the government to coordinate more closely with the military and emergency services to contain the over two dozen active fires raging across…

19 Jan

Delhi on high alert: Security beefed up after posters of wanted terrorists put up at metro stations, markets

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaHigh Alert, New Delhi

National Times Bureau :- Days before the Republic Day, the national capital has been put on high alert as the security agencies intensified surveillance to prevent any untoward incident. According to police officials, the posters primarily feature suspects linked to terror outfits such as Babbar Khalsa, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Al-Qaeda. The move aims to involve the public in identifying potential threats, as millions of commuters pass through major transit hubs every day. Police officials said the posters highlight individuals associated with terror organisations like Babbar Khalsa, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Al-Qaeda. The purpose is to encourage public participation in identifying possible threats, as…

19 Jan

Spain tragedy: 21 killed, over 100 injured as high-speed train derails, rams into another train

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsSpain Tragedy

National Times Bureau :- At least 21 people lost their lives and about 100 others were injured when a high-speed train derailed and crashed into an oncoming service near the town of Adamuz in southern Spain on Sunday evening, police and state broadcaster RTVE reported. The collision happened in Córdoba province and involved an Iryo high-speed train travelling from Málaga to Madrid and a Renfe train heading from Madrid to Huelva. Reuters cited police confirming the death toll, while RTVE said that at least 25 of the injured were in critical condition. According to Spain’s rail operator Adif, the accident…

18 Jan

Modi Targets TMC Over National Security, Calls for Change in West Bengal

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBJP, border fencing, Illegal Immigration, Narendra Modi, National Security, TMC, West Bengal

New Delhi, January 18, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal, accusing it of compromising national security for vote-bank politics and asserting that a change in leadership was necessary to ensure development and effective governance in the state. Addressing a public rally in Singur in Hooghly district, Modi alleged that the TMC was shielding illegal infiltrators and failing to cooperate with the Centre on crucial security-related measures, including the fencing of international borders. He claimed that repeated requests by the central government for land required for border-fencing…

18 Jan

Calgary Lifts Water Restrictions After Successful Testing of Repaired Main

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, CanadaBearspaw South Feeder Main, Calgary infrastructure, Calgary water restrictions, water main repair

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): The City of Calgary has lifted all water-use restrictions with immediate effect after tests on a ruptured and recently repaired water main were completed successfully, city officials confirmed. Mayor Jeromy Farkas welcomed the development, calling it a positive day for Calgary, while cautioning that significant work still lies ahead. He noted that although the repaired section is now functioning properly, the entire feeder main will need to be replaced to prevent future disruptions. For more than two weeks, Calgary’s 1.6 million residents, along with those in surrounding municipalities, had been urged to conserve water. The measures included…

18 Jan

Trump Calls for Leadership Change in Iran as Protests Intensify, Targets Supreme Leader Khamenei

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsAyatollah Ali Khamenei, Donald Trump, Iran protests, regime change, US-Iran tensions

Washington DC [US]: US President Donald Trump on Saturday openly called for a change in Iran’s leadership, sharply criticising the long-standing rule of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei amid intensifying nationwide protests across the Islamic Republic. In an interview, Trump said Iran needs “new leadership,” holding the current regime responsible for the country’s economic collapse, rising inflation and growing public dissatisfaction. He accused Iran’s leadership of maintaining control through force and repression rather than effective governance. Trump alleged that the ruling establishment has inflicted severe damage on the nation, claiming that excessive violence has been used to suppress dissent. He…

18 Jan

School Destroyed in Early-Morning Fire at Blueberry River First Nation in Northeastern B.C.

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, CanadaBlueberry River First Nation, British Columbia fire, First Nation school fire, Fort St. John RCMP

Blueberry River First Nation, British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): A school located within the Blueberry River First Nation in northeastern British Columbia was completely destroyed in a fire that broke out early Saturday morning, authorities said. According to the Fort St. John RCMP, officers were dispatched to the community at around 6:30 a.m. after reports of a blaze. When police and fire crews arrived at the scene, the school building was already fully engulfed in flames. No injuries have been reported in the incident. In a news release, RCMP officials stated that there is currently no indication the fire was suspicious…

18 Jan

Kashechewan First Nation Evacuated After Water and Sewage System Failures Leave Only Hundreds Behind

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaKashechewan First Nation, northern Ontario evacuation, sewage contamination, water system failure

Kashechewan First Nation (Ontario): Only a few hundred residents remain in Kashechewan First Nation in northern Ontario after widespread failures in the community’s water supply and sewage systems forced a large-scale evacuation, raising serious public health concerns. Kashechewan First Nation Executive Director Tyson Wesley said that by Sunday, only around 400 people would remain in the fly-in community, which has a population of approximately 2,200 and is located on the western shore of James Bay. The community declared a state of emergency on January 4 after critical infrastructure damage led to sewage backing up into homes and contaminating the local…